Shivaji_The_Founder_Of_Maratha_Swaraj

B. I. S. M. Puraskrita Grantha Mali, No. 26

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER

OF

MARATHA SWARAJ

BY

C. V. VAIDYA, M. A., LL. B.

Fellow, University of Bombay,

Vice-Ctianct-llor, Tilak University ;
t Bharat-Itihasa-Shamshndhak Mandal, Poona*

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1931

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ALIAS

BALASAHEB PANT PRATINIDHI,B.A.,

Chief of Aundh

In respectful appreciation of his deep

study of Maratha history and

his ardent admiration of

Shivaji Maharaj,

THE FOUNDER OF
MARATHA SWARAJ

PREFACE

The records in Maharashtra and other places bearing
on Shivaji's life are still being searched out and collected
in the Shiva-Charitra-Karyalaya founded by the Bharata-
Itihasa-Samshodhak Mandal of Poona and important
papers bearing on Shivaji's doings are being discovered
from day to day. It is, therefore, not yet time, according to
many, to write an authentic lifetof this great hero of Maha-
rashtra and 1 hesitated for some time to undertake this
work suggested to me by Shrimant Balasaheb Pant Prati-
nidhi, Chief of Aundh. I have now, however, accepted
this suggestion, as the materials already discovered are
plentiful enough and throw new light on many incidents in
Shivaji's life. They deserve to be described afresh with
the help of this new light and many wrong ideas about
Shivaji require to be corrected or eradicated at once.

First among these new records of Shivaji is the Shiva-
JSharata, a poetical life of Shivaji, written by Paramanand,
his court-poet and by his order. Though a poem, especially
one called Bharata, exaggerates many things, there are
some facts which can never be exaggerated or invented*
Thus Shiva' Bharata may exaggerate the beauty of Shivaji's
mother or the prowess of Shivaji in battle. But it cannot
invent a new date or a new name or even a new incident.
Especially we may bear in mind that Paramanand was a
contemporary poet writing at Shivaji's suggestion and had
thus at command the assistance of reliable papers and

ii PREFACE

persons. Those who seek to minimise the value of this
work because it is a poem are really mistaken in their
view and may be said to be inexpert in the appreciation
of evidence. And when they compare it to Prithviraj-
Rasa for this view, they forget that the latter poem is of
little historical value, not because it is a poem, but because
it was written 300 years after Prithviraj, when people
had forgotten many facts about him and had necessarily
to invent them to fill up gaps. They should rather compare
Shiw-Bharata with Prithviraj- Vijaya, a poem composed in
his time and by his order. It has been corroborated by many
inscriptions recently found ( as shown in my History of
Mediaeval Hindu India, Vol. Ill ). Indeed like the former
only a portion of this poem has been found and probably
like it again it was half-finished by the poet himself.

The next material to be noticed is a heap of papers
found in recent research such as letters, sanads, kaifiyats,
mah jars (testimonials of persons present in court at the
settlement of a dispute), etc* All this material hitherto found
by Rajawade, Parasnis, Deva and other researchers has
been collected and printed according to sequence of dates
in a volume specially prepared and published by the
Shiva-Charitra-Karyalaya called "Shivakalin-Patra-Sara-
Sangraha. "

Thirdly, we have the correspondence from English,
Dutch, French and Portuguese settlements in India at the
time, published already under their respective authority*
Extracts from English letters referring to Shivaji have

PREFACE in

been put together and published by the Mandal in a
separate volume ( called English Records of Shiva ji ).

Of other papers, Jedhe S'akavali, which is a list of
events by dates prepared in the family of Jedhes who
were co-workers of Shivaji, is particularly important.

Finally, Mahomed an writings of the time have also
been collected by the Shiva-Charitra-Karyalaya and
extracts from them have been published, especially from
Muhammadnama.

It goes without saying that statements in all these
documents made by friends, foes and foreigners have to
be tested in the crucible of probability and trustworthi-
ness. The temptation to exaggerate or falsify is natural
to many writers, as also the desire to record mere hear-
say* But events, dates or names cannot be questioned
when noted by contemporary writers. And generally the
rule may be followed that when two documents contradict
each other, the older document may be trusted for facts
though not for motives or opinions. An attempt has been
made in the following pages to give a detailed and con-
nected account of Shivaji's life from these sources, as
tested by these rules. Assistance has been taken from
papers written on successive topics in Shivaji's life by
noted persons and collected in a volume called " Shiva-
Charitra-Nibandhavali. " But on many points 1 have taken
my own view of the matter.

It may lastly be noted that this life, though written
by a Maratha and an admirer, tries to keep the balance

IV PREFACE

of a judge's mind in apportioning blame or praise* I hold
that a life should be written by an admirer and a country-
man, who naturally takes a favourable view of his hero's
motives, wherever possible. But I also hold that in as-
certaining facts and in judging of moral and political justi-
fications, the writer must maintain an impartial attitude.
How far I have succeeded in this direction, I leave it to
my readers to judge*

My thanks are due to Shrimant Balasaheb Pant
Pratinidhi, Chief of Aundh, for strongly suggesting to me
the writing of this book, Shrimant Balasaheb is a care-
ful student of Maratha history and an ardent admirer of
Shiva ji. But for his encouragment this book could not
have been written and consequently has been dedicated
to him. He has been kind enough to supply the pictures
inserted in this book. My thanks are also due to Sardar K.
C. Mehendale for going over the book while in press and
for suggesting corrections and additions where necessary.

Septe P ber a 'l931. } * V. Vaidya.

ABBREVIATIONS

PS = Patrasarasangraha.

J=JedheS'akavali.

S=Sabhaad.

SB = Shiva-Bharata.

SNS = S'ukramtisara.

ER= English Records on Shiva ji.

TABLEICtff (CONTENT^

Chap. Nanm; Page

Introduction^ 1-5

I Shiva ji's Ancaq 6-10

II BabajiandMal 11-17

III Shahaji 18-24

IV Birth of Shivaji 25-28

V The Fall of Nizamshahi 29-34
VI Childhood and Education 35-38

VII Investment with Jagir Authority 39-48

VIII Plan for Founding Swaraj 49-57

IX Imprisonment and Release of Shahaji 58-63

X The Supposed More Murders 64-71

XI Time and Place Favourable for

Shiva ji's Plan 72-78

XII Conquest of Konkan 79-87

XIII The Momentous Meeting 88-96

XIV The Terrible Tussle 97-104
XV Taking of the Fort of Panhala 105-1 12

XVI The Thermopylae of Indian History 113-122
XVII Moguls Mousetrapped in Umber-

khind. 123-125

XVIII Conquest of South Konkan. 126-133

XIX Midnight Rush of Mogul Camp 134-142

XX Conquest of Kudal 143-147

XXI Shivaji now a de facto Independent

King 148-156

XXII The Sack of Surat 157-163

XXIII Other Surprise Attacks in 1664-5 164-173

XXIV The Mogul and the Maratha 174-182
XXV The Most Romantic Episode in

Indian History 183-194

XXVI Conciliation and Consolidation 195-203

XXVII The Astonishing Escalade of Sinhgad 204-2 1 2

XXVIII Second Sack of Surat 213-219

XXIX Signal Mogul Defeat near Saler 220-225

XXX War with Bijapur 226-232

XXXI Preparations for Coronation 233-243

XXXII The Imposing Ceremony 244-254

XXXIII Shivaji and Ramadas 255-267

XXXIV Fresh Fights and Further Acquisi-
tions in 1675-1676 268-277

XXXV Daring Expedition into Distant

Karnatak 278-292
XXXVI Double Success of Dilerkhan's

Duplicity. 293-299

XXXVII The Last Great Exploit of Shivaji 300-308
XXX VII I Shivaji's Character ; Aspersions

Answered 309-324

XXXIX Shivaji's Greatness 325-333

XL Shivaji's Greatest Achievement 334

APPENDIX

I Shivaji's Personal Appearance 345

II Wives and Children 345-348

III Power and Possessions 349-353

IV t , Ministers; Their Names

and Functions 354-356

V Revenue Administration 357-359
VI Judicial ,. 360-362

VII Military if 363-368

VIII Currency in Shivaji's Time 369-377

IX Chauth and Sardeshmukhi 378-383

X Additional Notes 384-388

Chronology 389-394

Index of Names and Places 395-410

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ.

Shivaji.

l ; rom an old painting in the British Museum,
before 1707.

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER

OF

MARATHA SWARAJ

INTRODUCTION

The greatest figure in the modern history of
India is undoubtedly that of Shivaji, the founder of
Maratha independence in the seventeenth century.
Indeed he may be said to rank high among the
highest men in the history of the world, both ancient
and modern. He was, as is generally conceded,
an undaunted soldier and a consummate com-
mander like other heroes of the world. But what
was more in him and what is not yet recognised is
that he was a most virtuous, conscientious and god-
fearing soldier and conqueror. Alexander and
Caesar may capture our imagination by their as-
tounding careers of continuous conquest; but they
do not strike us by their moral greatness. And they
only conquered and enslaved hosts of foreign

2 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

peoples, a feat which can never be morally de-
fended. The great heroes of the world may be put
into four classes. The lowest class is that of those
conquerors who, like Alexander, enslave other
people. Higher than these are those heroes who, in
defence of their country, fight manfully but un-
successfully like Hannibal or Anangpal. Higher
still than these are those who fight in the cause of
their country and are successful, like Pratapsinh or
Wallace- But highest are those who, like Washington
or Garibaldi, by their exploits secure independence
to their own people and destroy foreign domination.
Shivaji, like these two, delivered his people from
the oppression of an alien rule and religion and he
may be put on a par with these two unquestionably
great men- But he seems to be greater than even
these men, when we bear in mind that he had to
fight against two powerful empires and with means
neither sufficient nor efficient, at least in the begin-
ning. The Americans and the Italians were as
strong and civilized as the English and the Austrians
who oppressed them and were further generally
united. Shivaji, on the other hand, had the illite-
rate and unwarlike Mawlas as his soldiers and was
opposed by many of his own Maratha compeers.
Shivaji's success against the vast armies of Delhi
and the large ones of Bijapur, composed of fierce
Moguls and Pathans, Siddis and Arabs as also

INTRODUCTION 3

Rajputs and Marathas, seems almost miraculous.
He was thus a hero of whom any nation may be
proud and of whom the Marathas and the Hindus
generally are justly so.

Shivaji's greatness as a soldier and commander
is no doubt accepted by all; but what is not general-
ly conceded is that he was also morally great. He
has been misrepresented by his enemies and even
by his friends, namely the Bakharkars, so much that
we usually hear it said that Shivaji was a murderer
and a marauder. Recent research has, however,
proved that these calumnies are unfounded and
that Shivaji as a conqueror was a highly moral hero.
In the following pages will be found a refutation of
such charges as being unfounded and disproved from
contemporary records. Such misconceptions have no
doubt recently been cleared. When the Prince of
Wales himself laid the foundation of Shivaji's statue
at Poona in 1921, he spoke of Shivaji as one of
India's greatest soldiers and statesmen, and as the
founder of Maratha greatness. 1 The word ' great-
ness*, we think, was used by His Royal Highness in
its most extended sense, including also Shivaji's
moral greatness. The fact that Shivaji respected
the sanctity of mosques and the honour of women is
accepted even by his enemies and this alone, in
times when temples were constantly demolished

1. The Times of India, 21th November, 192L

4 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

and Hindu women violated or carried away as
slaves by Mahomedans, would suffice to place him
in the rank of the greatest heroes of the world.

The life of Shivaji again is all the more charm-
ing by the fact that it is full of wonderful incidents
in which he always successfully extricated himself
from the dangerous positions into which his enemies
placed him, with a resourcefulness and a courage
which are unsurpassed in the history of the world and
which excited the admiration of even his enemies.
Such thrilling incidents as his duel with Afzulkhan,
his march in a dark rainy night from the fort of
Panhala pursued by the horsemen of Siddhi Johar,
his surprising attack on Shaistekhan at midnight
in his own camp when surrounded by thousands of
soldiers, his escape from confinement at Agra under
the very nose of Aurangjeb, his safe return after
an incognito travel through Northern India, eluding
the vigilance of all the officers of the Mogul empire,
and finally his coronation by which he announced the
foundation of an independent Maratha kingdom in
Maharashtra by anointing and crowning himself as
king with the Hindu religious Vedic ceremony of
Rajyabhisheka, strike us like almost the incidents of
a romance. Neither the most powerful Mogul empire
nor the immediately neighbouring kingdom of Bija-
pur which both had strenuously tried to destroy him,
could prevent this ceremony from being performed

INTRODUCTION 5

nor could they nullify it during Shivaji's life by
conquering him. It is no wonder that his followers
looked upon his life as charmed and as under the
protection of Bhavani, the tutelary deity of Shivajr;
nay they even looked upon him as an Avatara
of Vishnu, as the Shiva-Bharata describes in detail.

Powerful centres of activity, physical, mental
and moral, are created by the will of God from
time to time and in all climes- AsCarlyle has said,
" Institutions may disappear and kingdoms and
nations, but this will always remain, namely the
certainty of heroes being sent us and their being
worshipped when sent." One of such heroes, indeed
one of the few greatest heroes of the world, was
Shiva ji by his exploits, his intrepidity, his resource-
fulness and undaunted courage in difficult positions,
his continuous success and lastly his almost unique
moral greatness as respecter of women and of
places oi religious worship.

We will give in this book a connected account
of Shivaji's life and exploits from contemporaneous
records, both Indian and foreign, rarely noticing
the accounts given in later Bakhars which usually
exaggerate events and often invent them in their
attempt to show off Shivaji's ingenuity. We will
notice controversial or unimportant matters in
notes given in small type here and there, which the
reader may, if he likes, pass over.

I. SHIVAJI'S ANCESTORS

A high ancestry is not a sine qua non of a
hero's greatness and it matters little if Maloji,
Shivaji's grand-father, was a cultivator or an ordi-
nary ' bargir * ( cavalry soldier ). But it is now
proved beyond doubt ( 1 ) that the Bhosale family
to which Shiva ji belonged was descended from the
Sisodia kings of Me war who are looked upon as
of the bluest blood among Rajputs, and ( 2 ) that
Maloji was the son of a mansabdar. It is usually
supposed that this high ancestry was invented for
Shivaji by Balaji Avaji Chitnis, when he was
crowned as king by Gagabhat with Vedic rites.
But we find that this same Rajput descent has been
mentioned by Jayaram who, years before Shivaji's
coronation, wrote a poem on Shahaji. Therein he
says that Shahaji was descended from Dalip born
in the family of the Rana who was the foremost
among all kings of the earth. 1 This Dalip was, we
find, a grandson of Lakshmanasen, Rana of Chitod,
who came to the throne in 1 303 A. D. ( Gauri-
shankar Ojha ). Maloji is given as 1 5th in descent

n

Valipasa was wrongly read for ^Nifc which is the da-
tive of

SHIVAJI'S ANCESTORS 7

from him and taking 20 years for each generation,
we properly find Maloji flourishing about 1600 A.D.
in the Deccan. It is not yet ascertained exactly
who came first to the Deccan. But the genealogy
given by Chitnissays that Devarajaji, son of Bhosaji,
came to the Deccan about 1415 A. D. We know
that Rajput families came to the Deccan from time
to time to seek service under the Mahomedan kings
of Bedar, and later of Ahmednagar and Bijapur.
Indeed Maharashtra was settled originally by nor-
thern Kshatriyas of the Lunar race, Bhojas and
Yadavas, in the 7th century B. C ( Bhandarkar ) ;
and from that time, northern Kshatriya families
constantly came to the Deccan to seek fortune, even
founding empires like the Chalukyas from Ayodhya
in the sixth century A. D. 1 , and the Rathods in the
eleventh 2 . The present leading Maratha families
in the Deccan claim descent from these, and also
from other northern Rajput families, such as the
Nimbalkars from Paramaras and the Jadhavas
from Yadavas of Dwarka ( Hemadri). It is thus not
strange that the Bhosale family which came to the
Deccan in the 1 5th century to seek service under
Mahomedan kings, claims descent from the Sisodias
of Udaipur. It is again possible that the Bhosales
came to the Deccan and settled about Verul near
Daulatabad, after the Durga Devi famine, .which is
1. Our H. M. H. 1. Vol. I. * See

8 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

said to have lasted for twelve years from 1 392 to
1404 A. D., and they easily got into several vacant
Patelships of the district. The nature of the
Kshatriyas is to rule 1 and not to cultivate, and we
usually find northern Kshatriyas as Patels or Desh-
mukhs in the Deccan during Mahomedan rule.

These Maratha Kshatriya families were origi-
nally treated as on a par with northern families,
and we find that marriage relations between them 2
were usual* This intercourse, however, ceased about
the 13th century for several reasons, chiefly owing
to the splitting up of castes into sub-castes at this
time caused by new high notions of purity of blood.
Brahmins, we find, also sub-divided about this time
into two sections, northern ( Pancha Gauda ) and
southern ( Pancha Dravida ). The Bhosales who
came to the Deccan hereafter naturally contracted
marriage relations with the leading Maratha
families of the south, such as the Nimbalkars and the
Jadhavas/ These also constituted their sub-castes by
counting 96 Maratha families as of high lineage,
imitating the counting of the northern Kshatriya or
Rajput families at 36. But this bifurcation did not
exist before the 1 1th century A. D., as we actually
find two families among the northern 36, namely
the Senas of Bengal and the Gahadval Rathods of

X

2. OurH.M. H. I., Vol. Ill, p. 385.

SHIVAJI'S ANCESTORS 9

Kanauj, stating in their inscriptions of that period
that they came from the Deccan. On all these consi-
derations, the claim of the Bhosale family that they
are descended from Sisodias may be accepted
as historically sound. In fact even Mahomedan
writers admit this claim when they state that Dalip-
sing belonged to an illegitimate branch of the
Sisodias of Me wad

The name Bhosale has been explained in two
ways. Devraj who came to the Deccan was a son
of Bhosaji,and his descendants were called Bhosale,

* la * being a termination in Marathi meaning 4 of*
e. g. Desala. Others derive the name from Bhose,
a village in the Verul district, where the family
first settled and Bhosala, like Gokhala, means

* of the Bhose village/ Surnames arise in many
ways and it is always difficult to correctly explain

surnames. 1

The oldest list of the 96 Ma rath a families
(c. 1 700 A. D.) which we have yet found, gives the
name Bhosale, among the 96, as shown in our paper
on them 2 * It would have been extremely interesting
to know, if a list dating from before the 1 7th century

1. From enquiry of Pandit Sukhdeo Prasadji, Prime
Minister of Udaipur, it appears that " the name Bhosaji
does not occur in their genealogical tables nor is it common
among Rajputs." It ia probable that this name aa usual was
inserted by pedigree-writers to explain the surname*

2. Shiv Charitra Nibandhaivali* Vol. 2, p. 52.

10 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

had been found, whether that list contains this name
so that we could have assured ourselves of the
Bhosales being already in the Deccan and included
among the Marathas.

The gotra of this family in this oldest list is
given as Kaushika, which is different from the gotra
(Bai javapa) of the Sisodias; but it is a maxim adopt-
ed in the Deccan, after Mitakshara, that Kshatriyas
have no gotras of their own and have to take the
gotras of their preceptors. When the Bhosales came
to the Deccan and settled as Marathas, they must
have chosen new preceptors from among Deccani
Brahmins and thus taken the new gotra Kaushika.
The present Rajagurus of the Bhosales of Kolha-
pur and Satara are of a different gotra ( S'akalya )
which shows that their family was selected as pre-
ceptors after Babaji. These new Rajagurus belong
to Arvi on the Bhima higher up than Pedgaon, and
appear to have been selected by Maloji. 1 Even in
Rajaputana, the gotras of the Rajput families differ
from those of their preceptors, though the maxim that
Kshatriyas have no gotras of their own is accepted
even there. It is, therefore, of no consequence that
the gotra of the Bhosale family is Kaushika, and
this does not prove that the Bhosales are not de-
scended from the Sisodia royal family of Udaipur.

1. The first sanad of the Arvikars is 'from Maloji and
Vithoji(PS36),

II. BABAJI AND MALOJI

Shioa-Bharata properly enough commences^ its
account of Shivaji with Maloji, his grand-father,
the first powerful and prosperous prince of the
Bhosale family ; but it would be a mistake to sup-
pose that power and prosperity began with him.
The Bakharkars omit all mention of everything
that happened before Maloji, it being probably
forgotten; and they could only account for his fame
and riches by supposing a treasure find. Grant
Duff, disbelieving the story of the find, surmised
that Maloji acquired riches by committing dacoities.
Others think that Maloji and his brother Vithoji
were poor cultivators and migrated with their
wives from Deulgaon, their village, to Verul to
seek maintenance. Finding agriculture unremuner-
ative even there, they finally entered the service
of Jadhavrao as common * bargirs * or cavalry
soldiers. 1 Recent research has shown that Maloji's
father Babaji was a mansabdar and enjoyed the
fief of Pande Pedgaon, an important town on the
Bhima, now in the Nagar District. Formerly it

1. Both these statements are not correct, as Verul
was the original habitat of the Bhosales and as the land
about Verul is very fertile.

12 BABAJI AND MALOJI

was a prosperous place, being on the route to
Bedar and Bijapur from Konkan and the Western
Ghats. A sanad issued from the court of Babaji
Raje, dated December 1597 A. D. 1 , shows this.
The title *Raje' was not bestowed on Babaji by
any king but was one enjoyed by all Maratha high-
er families. Indeed the title was used even in the
8th century A. D., as Kumarila remarks in his com-
mentary on the S'abara Bhashya that persons in
the Deccan, even though they do not rule any town
or country, call themselves Rajas. This title, there-
fore, was usually taken by Maratha higher families
such as Bhosales, Shirkes &c. In Andhra they even
now use the word Ra ju similarly. But the Bhosales
were also Rajas or kings for all practical purposes
in their fiefs, and Babaji Raje Bhosale was one such
feudal lord under Nizamshahi. Strong mansab-
dars were usually posted on the frontiers of king-
doms and the Bhima was the dividing line between
Ahmednagar and Bijapur kingdoms* Shica-Bharata
thus properly calls Maloji a king, i. c. a feudal lord
and adds that he, with many such feudal lords,
served the Nizamshah who ruled from Devagiri
alias Daulatabad. 2

1. No. 367 of Rajwade Khand XV, Margashirsha 1519.

2. This was the original capital of Nizamshahi*
Ahmednagar was subsequently built by Ahmed shah on
the Sina and treated as a second capital, Junnar being too
far off from Daulatabad or Devagiri.

BABAJI AND MALOJI 13

One can understand how the Bhosales, who
first settled about Daulatabad or Devagiri were sub-
sequently granted mansabs on the Bijapur frontier.
We do not know as yet who first got this fief of Ped-
gaon. 1 But the document above referred to clearly
proves that Babaji Raje was in the enjoyment of
it in 1 597 A. D-. Shiva-Bharata, though it does not
refer to Babaji, appears to know him, as it states
that Maloji first enjoyed a kingdom inherited from
his ancestors and that when he subsequently got
many other fiefs from the Nizamshah, he left it
into the hands of his officers 2

Maloji and his brother Vithoji served the
Nizamshah with distinction and got many 'mokasas*
for maintenance of forces, as also many villages
and lands in Inam. These were as follows*
( I ) The three perganas of Elur ( Verul ) f Derhadi
and Kannarad 3 (all in the Nizam state now );
Kannarad was given with * kot ' and 4 kila ' or fort
and included Jategau and Vakadi 4 . (2) The towns

1. Pedgaon, now in ruins, is eight miles from Shri-
gonda, on the Bhima, with Hemadpanti temples of Shiva
and Rameshwar, Moguls encamped here long when they
fought against the Marathas in the 18th century (Ahmed-
nagar Gazetteer ). They even built a fort here which is
aiso in ruins* There is a fine temple still intact, however*
on the Bhima which is well worth a visit.

2. SB I, 70. 3. PS 29, dated 1606 A. D.
4. Rojwade Khmnd XV, No. 370.

14 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

{Kasba) of Lasur pergana Gandapur, Adharsul
pergana Ahmedabad and the villages of Porle
(ditto), Pimpalvadi pergana Paithan and Gaudagau
or Ahmedabad. 1 So far as we have ascertained,
Jategaon is in Karmala ( Sholapur ), and Adharsul
is near Yeola. We may be sure that the grantors
took care that the mokasas granted should not
form a continuous territory.

The position of these fief-holders was practi-
cally that of kings* inasmuch as they administered
the territory assigned, maintained their own armies
and could make grants of lands ; but they were not
hereditary owners of their fiefs, as fiefs appear
constantly to have been resumed and granted to
others. We actually find, from record PS 25,
dated Kartika of S'. 1 527 or Oct. 1 605 A. D. f that the
fief of Pande Pedgaon was then in the enjoyment
of Malik Amber. 2 We can thus understand how
new deeds of gifts were constantly sought by
grantees of lands on the ground that the fief was
now in the possession of a new holder. Mansabs
or mokasas and jagirs differed, we think, in this
that the latter were hereditary and not resumable at
will. The mansabdars or feudal lords kept troops
of soldiers for service of the state. The state no
doubt maintained its own army; but it also relied on

1. KhandXV,No,37l.

BABAJI AND MALOJI 15

the troops of its fief-holders for service when re-
quired. This system continued down to the days of
the Peshwas.

Babaji Raje Bhosale then was the feudal lord
of JPande Pedgaon and the same fief continued for
a time in the possession of Maloji. Indeed Maloji
was associated with Babaji in its possession, even
in 1596 A. D., as a sanad is issued by him 1 in
that year. Maloji thus was not a cultivator but a
feudal lord from the first and had under his com-
mand an army. He afterwards obtained renown
as a soldier ; and consequently many more and
more important mansabs were bestowed upon him.
Maloji and his brother Vithoji are styled 4 Sargu-
roh * or leaders of bands ( * Guroh * means band )
and some places given are described as 'Gurothal*
or the head-quarter of a band. 2 Maloji not only
thus became more powerful but also more pro-
sperous owing to these fiefs. We may, however,
still accept the story of a treasure find; for Maloji,
who was deeply religious, built the temple of
Ghrishneshvara Mahadeva at Verul ( one of the
well-known twelve Jyotirlingas in the whole of
India ) 3 and also excavated and built a tank on the

1. PS 10. 2. As Korle, Khand XV, No. 369.

3. This temple does not now exist ; the present
temple is said to have been built by Ahilyabai about the
end of the 18th century A. D.

16 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

top of the Shambhu Mahadeva hill near Satara 9
another Shiva shrine of fame in Maharashtra.
This latter fact is referred to in a document dated
1606 A. D. 1

The Bhosales were worshippers of Shiva like
their ancestors of Udaipur, and Maloji used his
riches in building the shrine at his original habitat
in Maharashtra, and provided water on the top of
the Shambhu Mahadeva hill, as pilgrims were
handicapped for want of water there. The story
of the treasure find may be accepted, because,
among Hindus, it is considered proper that treasure
found should be expended on temples and other
charitable works. The power of Maloji as a
feudal lord was, however, clearly acquired by his
bravery, though he already had the nucleus of an
army which he had inherited from his father.

Maloji being a mansabdar by birth had pro-
perly enough for wife a daughter of the Nimbal-
kars who were a powerful fief-holder family estab-
lished at Phaltan* The Nimbalkars are Para-
maras and thus Maratha Rajputs of pure blood.
Maloji had no son for a long time ; and according
to the beliefs of his time, he prayed both to his tute-
lary god Mahadeva and a Mahomedan saint named
Shah-sharif. By their blessings, in later life, he
got two sons and named them Shahaji and Sharif ji
1. PS 31

BABAJI AND MALOJI 17

respectively, after the saint. Some doubt this origin
of these names ; but as it is given in Shwa-Bharata
itself, 1 we may accept the fact as true.

It is certain that Maloji died about the end of
$'. 1528 or the middle of A. D. 1606 f as in a sanad
of S'ravan, S'. 1529, we have the mention of Maloji
as deceased 2 and as subsequent documents mention
Vithoji alone. 3 How old he was at the time of his
death it is difficult to say. When it is stated that
he had no son for a long time, it is not intended
to convey, as might be under western social condi-
tions, that he was more than 50. Marathas then
married early, even as now, and had children na-
turally at an early age as compared with western
people* It is stated in a letter of Shahaji that his
mother Umabai was alive in S/ 1551 or A- D. 1629
and thus she survived her husband for about 23
years at least. 4

Maloji is said to have been killed in the battle
of In da pur fought by the Nizamshahi forces against
Bijapur. 5 In da pur was beyond the Bhima and
was consequently sometimes claimed by Adilshahi
though to the north of Nira.

1. SB 1 . 90. 2. *TCI? Khand XV. No. 372.

3. Khand XV, Nos. 375, 377 of S'. 1533.
4- PS 498. 5. SB 2, 5.

S. I

III. SHAHAJI

When Maloji was killed in 1606, Shahaji was
five years old. 1 The birth of Shahaji, therefore, may
be placed in 1601 A. D. He was brought*up by his
uncle Vithoji, who comforted his brother's widow,
though separate, and promised her to bring up her
two sons. Shahaji who was a capable boy soon
showed signs of vigour and when taken to the
Nizam shah ( Burhan being then on the throne ), he
was installed in the fiefs of his father 2 . When
Shahaji became major i. e- about 16 years old and
44 when he showed simgs of youth on his face, '**
Jadhavrao gave him his daughter Jija in marriage
with great delight. Although we do not know the
exact date of this marriage, we may place it in
1617 A. D. It is thus clear from this account of
Shiva-Bharata that the fantastic story of a promise
to Maloji by Jadhavrao on a Rangapanchami day,
on seeing the two pretty children play with ochre,
to give Shahaji his daughter in marriage, the
subsequent refusal of Jadhavrao to carry out the
promise on his wife's protest against marrying
her daughter to the son of a * bargir, ' and the
disturbance created next by Maloji by throwing

1. SB 2, 1-5. 2. SB 2,34. 3 t SB 2. 39.

8HAHAJI 19

a dead pig into a masjid to attract the attention of
Nizamshah towards this breach of promise, is all
a myth created by the imagination of Bakharkars.
The story is absurd on its face in more ways than
one. Shahaji, weAhow^aJknow, was not the son of a
common ' bargir * but of a powerful mansabdar. He
was the son of the rich MalojiBhosale and Umabai,
daughter of a Nimbalkar, both families being of
the bluest blood. Secondly, no Mahomedan king of
that time would have brooked the throwing of a
dead pig into a masjid, nor would any Hindu of
that time, especially of the religious temperament of
Maloji, who had got sons through the blessings of a
Mahomedan fakir, have committed such a sacrilege.
Students of Shiva ji's life must now scrap and forget
this absurd story.

Vithoji dying some time hereafter, the leader-
ship of the family came naturally to Shahaji, son
of the elder Maloji, and he, with his brother Sarfoji
and his eight cousins ( sons of Vithoji ), served the
Nizamshah and pleased Malik Amber, the minis-
ter, by his bravery and astuteness 1 . He must have
been about 1-S years old at this time, an age at
which almost all Indian princes begin their mili-
tary career. An unfortunate incident about this
time led to enmity between Shahaji and his father-
in-law Jadhavrao. While Maratha sardars after
1. SB 3,1-7.

20 ssrviji THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

attending a Durbar of the Nizamshah were depart-
ing from the palace, each one trying to crowd out
the others, the elephant of asardar named Khan da -
. gale became unruly and trampled some footmen
to death. Dattaji, son of Jadhavrao, attacked the
elephant* A skirmish thus began between him and
Khandagale and the latter was assisted by the sons
of Vithoji. A regular duel ensued between Dattaji
and Sambhaji, son of Vithoji, in which Dattaji was
killed. Lukhji Jadhavrao who had departed al-
ready heard the terrible news of his son's death,
and, infuriated, returned to attack Sambhaji . Shahaji
now went to the help of his cousin Sambhaji and a
battle was fought wherein Sambhaji was killed.
The Nizamshah himself, on hearing of this scuffle,
came out, and, intervening, separated the combat-
ants. Thus began that enmity between Jadhavrao
and Shahaji, according to Shiva-Bharata, which the
Bakharkars have wrongly carried back to the time
of Shahaji's marriage with Jijabai.

One result of this scuffle was that Jadhavrao
thought that the Nizamshah was unduly in favour
of the Bhosales, and he left his service and went
over to the Moguls. This desertion was taken
advantage of by Adilshah, who invited the Moguls
to attack Nizamshahi from the -north while he at-
tacked it from the south. A great battle was fought
between the two sides at Bhatavadi in 1624 A. D.

SHAHAJI 21

Shiva-Bharata gives a detailed description of this
battle and mentions by name the many captains in
the three armies, namely of Delhi, Bijapur and
Ahmednagar. Eventually Malik Amber obtained
a signal victory over the two allies, Muila Mahmad,
Sar-Lashkar of Bijapur, being killed and many
captains of the Mogul and Bijapur armies being
taken prisoners. The Bhosales fought bravely on
Malik Amber's side, Sharifji being among the
slain in the army of Ahmednagar. This was
Shahaji's first brilliant exploit on the battle-field.
The battle is referred to in a letter of Pedro, an
Italian traveller, dated 1624 October 31st\ which
supports the account of Shiva-Bharata and may
thus be taken to have been fought some time in
the middle of that year*

It is probable that Shahaji got at this time, as
reward, the mokasas of Poona and Supa , which
were beyond the Bhima and which were, as stated
before, subjects of frequent conflicts between
Ahmednagar and Bijapur. Malik Amber, who,
as minister, had kept up the tottering kingdom of

1. PS 217.

2. PS 81 of Feb. 10, 1616 shows Poona in possess! on
of a Mahomedan and PS 82 shows that Patas was in
that of Sarjarao. See also PS 85, 87, 93 &c. The word
goq in SB 1, 45 means holy and not Poona as the clause
4 on the bank of Bhima ' in the next line proves.

22 3HIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Nizamshahi, was favourably disposed towards
Shahaji, who was also, it appears, appointed Sar-
Lashkar or general in Ahmednagar army-

Shiva-Bharata relates that the sons of Vithoji
became hereafter jealous of Shahaji's greatness
and began to hate him, as is usual with Hindu cou-
sins. Malik Amber seems to have supported
Shahaji's cousins in the quarrel, as the ruling power,
also as usual, keeps up disputes in powerful sardars*
families. Shahaji was dissatisfied and he retired to
Poona where he built a house for himself. From
there he was invited by Ibrahim Adilshah to enter
his service and Shahaji with his followers became an
Adilshahi sardar. 1 This is supported by a document 2
dated 1 9th December 1 625, in which Shahaji
is contemptuously described as * Shahaji Bhosala,
Adilshahi *. Another document 3 , a sanad dated
28th July, describes him, however, as * Meherban
Shahaji Raje Sarlashkar *. Both these documents
relate to the Poona District and show that while in
July 1 62 5, Shahaji was a Sarlashkar or commander
of forces in Nizamshahi and enjoyed the fief of
Poona, in December 1 625 he was in Adilshahi
service and Poona had been taken away from him*

Shahaji rendered important services to Adil-
shah by conquering Mudhoji of Phaltan and some

I. SB 5,9-12. 2. PS 225. 3. PS 222.

SHAHAJI 23

refractory chiefs in Karnatic and in Keral 1 , He re-
mained in Adilshahi service from about October
1625 to about the end of 1627. From a document 2
dated 10th January 1626, it appears that he was
then a Sarlashkar in Adilshahi, and at his request
the Adilshah granted the ' desagata ' of Talebid
and some rights on the fort of Panhala to Sambhaji
and Dharoji Mohite. These were probably rela-
tives of Shahaji's second wife who belonged to the
Mohite family.

In May 1626 Malik Amber died and about a
year or so after 3 Ibrahim Adilshah also died. The
former was succeeded by his son Fattehkhan who
was favourably disposed towards Shahaji, and the
latter by Mahomed Adilshah who was a staunch
Shia and an intolerant Mahomedan. About the
change of policy the latter initiated we shall speak
later ; but Shahaji now thought it safe to leave
his service and go to Nizamshah, his old master.
He again got his Poona mansab to which was added
Patas apparently. It also seems that Nizamshahi
was threatened at this time by Shahjahan and
Shahaji being called by the Nizamshah thought it
proper to join his old master. The Poona per-
gana with Patas was given him again and he was
sent against the advancing Mogul force. Shahaji
appears from a sanad issued by him in Poona per-
1. SB 5. 17-18. 2. PS 226. 3. May 1627 0).

24 8HIVAJI THE FOUNDER OP MARATHA SWARAJ

gana, dated 8th March I628 1 , to have come back to
Nizamshahi in the beginning of 1628 2 while another
sanad is issued by him on August 3, 1628, for
Kasba Patas. 3 Shahaji remained in this service till
the fall of Nizamshahi in 1636, with the exception
of a short interval, when he had gone over to the
Moguls, as will be presently related.

1. PS 262.

2. The words in PS 262 ?$f flft^ tr ^ft *$& TO *F3^
w^ %& need not be interpreted to mean that the posses-
sion was taken forcibly, as my friend V. G. Apte thinks.
There is no mention of the possession being forcible.
and " Shahaji came and took possession of the Pergana "
may also mean that he came, being authorised by Nizam-
shah to take possession* We need not, therefore, hold
that Shahaji was at this time in the service of Adilshah.

3. PS 275.

IV. BIRTH OF SHIVAJI

In this interval Shivaji was born to Shahaji on
Phalgun Vadya 3 S'. 1551, corresponding to 18th
February 1630 A- D., on the fort of Shivneri near
Junnar This date of Shivaji's birth was first found
mentioned in Jedhe S akavali by Lokamanya Tilak,
who was surprised to find this new date as
against that given by Grant Duff on the basis of
statements in Bakhars viz. 3 May, 1627. The new
date was, however, subsequently found in the
stone inscription at Tanjore recorded in 1803 A. D.
Shiva-Bharala also gave this new date ; and lastly
Gaurishankar Ojha found it in a horoscope of
Shivaji recorded in the collection of horoscopes
made by Shivram Jyotishi in Jaipur state about 1688.
Sabhasad, the oldest Bakharkar of Shivaji, curiously
enough, gives no date for the birth of Shivaji.
The new date given in four such reliable documents
found at such distant places as Poona, Kolhapur,
Tanjore and Jaipur may be accepted now as the
most probable date of Shivaji's birth for reasons
which will appear from the following disquisition.

The birth-place of Shivaji is accepted by all
as the fort of Shivneri. The great difficulty before
the Bakharkars was to explain how Shivaji came

26 SHIYA.TI THE FOQNOER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

to be born on the Shivneri fort. The account of
Shiva-Bharata in this connection is simple and be-
lievable. Junnar was the under Nizamshahi. The
keeper of its fort on the Shivneri hill near it,
named Vishvasrao (Vijaya, son of Shidhoji 1 ) gave
his daughter in marriage to Sambhaji, eldest son
of Shahaji; and for that marriage Jijabai went to
the fort, though she was advanced in pregnancy,
as a son's marriage is the happiest moment in a
Maratha wife's life, generally one of continuous
service. It was impossible that she would remain
at home in Poona. This marriage was easily
arranged as Shahaji was then in the service of
the Nizamshah. After the marriage, Shahaji went
against Daryakhan the Mogul, as stated before,
leaving his pregnant wife on the fort for delivery*

As against this probable account, the Bakhar-
kars relate that " Shahaji was fleeing from Mahuli
with his pregnant wife, pursued by the Moguls
and by Jadhavrao who was then in their service,
that Shahaji saying to his wife * I am pursued by
your father * cruelly left her behind, that she was
found by Jadhavrao weeping and crying, and that
he, for her safety against seizure by Mahomedans*
sent her to the fort of Shivneri. There Shiva ji was
born in May 1627." There are so many absurdities
and incongruities of date in this account that it can

L SB 7,80.

BIRTH OF SHIVA Jt 27

only be explained on the supposition that the Bakhar-
kars had no idea of either the dates or the sequence
of these old events. Thus Shahaji's fleeing from
Mahuli, we now know from Mahomedan history,
took place in 1 636 A. D. and not in 1627 and at that
date Jadhavrao had already been murdered as
will be related presently. Secondly, Shivneri was
not then in the possession either of Jadhavrao or
of Shahaji and Jadhavrao could not have sent Jija-
bai there for protection.

How a wrong date could be given by Bakhar-
kars of such an important event as the birth of
Shivaji, it is difficult to explain. Several conjec-
tures have been made and it is suggested that the
Bakharkars wrongly caught hold of the horoscope
of one of the brothers of Shivaji, he having more
than one, as will be stated later on. It is also
suggested that astrologers in the days of the
Bakharkars viz- the 1 8th century, concocted a horo-
scope for Shivaji with five planets in their 'uchcha'
( ascendant ), following the general belief that all
heroes have such a conjunction at their birth. Even
the poem Shiva-Bharata states, following the usual
poetical description 1 , that five planets were in their
ascendant at Shiva ji's birth. But the planets were
not so in 1630 as we find from calculation, and they
were roughly so in 1627. This controversy, there-

28 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWRABAJ

fore, cannot be finally settled, unless we have
evidence of a contemporary character, alluding to
the birth-day celebration of Shivaji in a particular
year* Such celebrations must have taken place
every year, especially after Shivaji's coronation,
though some believe that the practice of holding
celebrations of birth-days of kings began much
later. We must, therefore, meanwhile accept the
new date as the most probable one.

We would caution the reader, however, against
attaching much importance to this controversy as
the difference of age created by the new date is
only of two years and nine months, and does not
much change the aspect of the several incidents in
Shivaji's life. Thus it does not matter whether
Shivaji died at the age of 50 or 52 or began his
career at the age of 15 or 17.

It is properly believed that the name * Shivaji'
was bestowed on the child because it was born on
the Shivneri fort 1 under the protection of its goddess
Shivai. The name of the fort is certainly older
than Shivaji, and there is still pointed out a fallen
house on the hill fort in which Shivaji was born.
The temple of Shivai in the side of the hill may
have been built subsequently; but the shrine itself,
containing the ' Svayambhu ' idol is very old*
1. SB 6, 63.

V. THE FALL OF NIZAMSHAHI

We are not concerned here \vith the exact de-
tails of this fall, but we will give a short account of
it chiefly from Shiva- Bharata. The Nizamshahi king-
dom was, no doubt, doomed to extinction before the
gradual advance of the Mogul empire under the
successive rule of four able emperors. That em-
pire had already eaten up Khandesh and Berar
which was one of the five Mahomed an kingdoms
born out of the kingdom of Bedar. But the scene
of the fall of Nizamshahi at this period is kaleido-
scopic in its rapidity and change of colour. When
Shahaji rejoined Nizamshahi in 1528, it gained
strength for a time under the ministership of Fatteh-
khan, though he himself was an incapable successor
of Malik Amber. Jadhavrao having also returned
to Nizamshahi service at this time, Nizamshahi
looked strong again. But the king on the throne,
Murtiza, was vicious, being addicted to wine, 1
fickle-minded and cruel. When a kingdom is
doomed cruel and incapable kings and faithless
and corrupt ministers appear on the scene. Hamid-
khan, an unprincipled man, acquired ascendancy
at this time over Murtiza Nizam and induced him
1. SB 8,25.

30 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

to imprison Fattehkhan for leaning inwardly to-
wards the Moguls. Everyone was suspected as
being in the employ of the enemy, especially
Jadhavrao who had previously gone over to the
Moguls He was openly insulted one day by the
king in Durbar, and he in disgust rose up and left
the court. As he was passing through the portico
of the palace, he was attacked by the hirelings of
Hamidkhan and Jadhavrao and his two sons and
one grandson were killed. This happened on 12th
August 1630. 1 These murders which took place a
few months after Shiva ji's birth, sent a thrill
throughout the kingdom, having been committed in
the palace itself and by the king's order or at least
connivance. Shahaji now thought it safe to leave
Nizamshahi service ; but he could not go back to
Adilshahi which had sent Muraripant to overrun
his Poona jagir. Poona city had been plunder-
ed and even burnt 2 and the territory annexed to
Bijapur, with a new fort called Daulat Manga 1,
built on the Bhuleshwar hill, treated as headquar-
ters. 3 Shahaji, therefore, went over to the Moguls
who received him with open arms and bestowed
mansabs upon him and his son Sambhaji. Thus
Nizamshahi lost two of its able sardars in 1630 and
the Moguls advanced upon it ostensibly to punish it
' for giving shelter to the Mogul rebel, Khan Jahan
1. S'ravan Purnima, S'. 1552 (J). 2. PS 332. 3. PS 2093.

THE FALL OF NIZAMSHAHI 31

Lodi. Nature also added its hardships at this time
as a dire famine overtook Maharashtra, in conse-
quence of the failure of rains in 1630.

Nizamshahi was thus, at this time, in the clutch-
es of foe and famine. The Nizam was invested in
his chief fort of Daulatabad by the army of Shaha-
jahan- Mahomed Adilshah, fearing that the Moguls
might soon become his immediate neighbours, sent
an army under Randullakhan and Muraripant to
relieve the investment and tried to send supplies
to Fattehkhan in the fort. The Bijapuris also fought
with Mahabatkhan, the Mogul investor of the fort,
but were defeated. Fattehkhan eventually surren-
dered the fort and handed over the Nizamshahi
kingdom with all its treasure, its forts and its terri-
tory to the Moguls, receiving a jagir for himself.
This event happened in June 1632 1 . .Shiva-Bharata
sheds a tear over the fall of the great kingdom
which had 80 thousand cavalry, 80 and 4 more
forts, a rich country and many powerful sardars
who had defeated the armies of the haughty Delhi
emperors, with their forces, " suddenly falling on
the enemy like eagles *\ 2 It, however, attempts to
explain the fall in a historical manner and states
that Fattehkhan was an incapable successor of his
great father, that Jadhavrao was murdered by the
unscrupulous Hamidkhan and that God punished

1. Jyeshtha S'. 1554 (JX 2. SB 8, 44.

32 SHTVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

the kingdom for this atrocity with a famine. A
graphic description of the famine is given in the
poem and this famine is also mentioned in Jedhe
S'akavali and in Mahomedan and other accounts.

A few further details of the fall of Nizamshahi
may be given from other accounts. On the ad-
vance of the Moguls, Fattehkhan was released by
Murtiza on 18th January 1631 1 , probably under the
belief that he would be able to assist the kingdom
in its crisis. But he ungratefully murdered the
Nizam himself and placed on the throne a scion of
the family. He handed over this scion even to the
Moguls when he surrendered the fort of Daulata-
bad ; and the Moguls sent the young Nizam to the
fort of Gwalior where he subsequently died or
was murdered. Badshahanama and Orme papers
mention Burhan as murdered by Fattehkhan, but
this is probably a mistake and it was Murtiza who
was murdered by him, as stated in the Ahmed-
nagar Gazetteer, p. 397. The name of the prince
handed over is given as Hussain by Orme and the
date of handing him over as 19 Zehedge or 28th
June, 1632. 2 Fattehkhan received a jagir from the
Moguls for himself, a part of which consisted of
places given by them to Shahaji.

1. Pauth Vadya II, S'. 1552 (J).

2. Stdvoji Nibandhaoali, I # 2. p. ^0. 92.

THE FALL OF MZAMSHAHI 33

Shahaji now found himself left in the lurch,
losing the support of the Moguls on the one side
and being already an enemy of Mahomed Adilshah
on the other. He did not, however, sink, but boldly
struck a new path. He formed the audacious
plan of setting up, not a Maratha kingdom for him-
self, that was not thought feasible yet, but the
Nizamshahi itself under a new king. He caught
hold of a queen of the Nizamshah and her son and
crowned him as king on the Pemgiri fort in Sep-
tember 1632. 1 This fort is built on an isolated hill
at the end of a spur from the Baleshwar range. 2
Daulatabad and Nagar being in the hands of the
enemy, Shahaji selected this fort properly, being
in the centre of the kingdom set up by him. Every
kingdom was then in need of a fort for its second
capital and place of retirement. The present
territory of Nagar and Nasik districts was in his
possession at this time, he having been deputed,
long before this, by the Moguls themselves to take
that part of the country. He found it feasible to
set up a new rule in this territory with the help of
the many Maratha captains there who were favour-
ably disposed towards him 3 , even against two
such powerful adversaries as Shahjahan and
Mahomed Adilshah who now joined the Moguls

1. Bhadrapada S'. 1554 (J). 2. Ahmednagar Gazetteer.

.">. SB gives names of these in 9, 5-7
S. 3

34 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

V

to destroy Shahaji. Shahaji fought with them for
three years and his final stand was at Mahuli, a
fort in the Konkan below Junnar and Shivneri.
But eventually finding the task hopeless, especial-
ly as the Nizamshahi Queen was suspected of an
intention to go over to the Moguls, he, like Fatteh-
khan, ended the struggle amicably, by making over
the puppet king to the Moguls ; and receiving
a jagir for himself, he entered the service of
Mahomed Adilshah. The Nizamshahi territory
was divided between the two conquerors, the
country to the south of the Bhima going to
Adilshah. Sbahaji retained his jagir of Poona
and Supa as a sardar now under the Adilshah.
He retained his own 'kingdom', as the Shfoa-Bharata
says, consisting of Poona, Supa and Indapur per-
ganas which were between the Bhima and the Nira,
the old boundary of the Bijapur kingdom. Shahaji
handed the fort of Mahuli to the Moguls in the
beginning of 1636 and finally entered the service of
Mahomed Adilshah. J states that " Shahaji went
to Mahuli and there he was besieged by Rana-
dullakhan and Khanjama, Suba of the Moguls.
The Moguls took possession of the Nizamshah, and
Shahaji Raje became a servant of Adilshah. in S'.
1557. Ranadullakhan had taken with him Kanoji
Jedhe and Shahaji met him there. "

VI. CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION

Born in February 1630, Shiva ji was six years
old when Shahaji took him to Bijapur with his
whole family in 1636, on his finally entering the
service of Adilshah. These six years Shivaji must
have spent at several places such as Shivneri,
Junnar, Poona and lastly Mahuli. When he was
born, Shahaji was absent on an expedition against
Daryakhan. He returned about a year after and
had the first sight of his son who was destined to
be greater than himself. The usual auspicious cere-
monies being performed, Shahaji again went
against the Moguls and Shivaji remained on the
Shivneri hill, as it was not usual with Maratha
captains to take their families with them, when on
active operations ( a practice subsequently given
up by the imperial Peshwas, who imitated the
Moguls greatly to their ruin, as experienced on the
field of Panipat ) It appears that Shahaji's Poona
territory had already been returned to him by Adil-
shah who changed his policy towards Nizamshahi
constantly, now fighting against it, now aiding it-
It is probable that when Shahaji for a time went
over to the Moguls, Shivaji with his mother lived
at Poona, and Sambhaji went with his father to

36 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Mahabatkhan, the Mogul general, for getting a
mansab for himself. Subsequently, when Shahaji
returned to Nizamshahi service and when after the
fall of Daulatabad, he set up Nizamshahi anew,
Shivaji must have lived at Junnar, Shahaji's head-
quarters in I633. 1 Shahaji lived subsequently at
Mahuli, where Shivaji, being then five or six years
old, must have marked with his precocious faculties
both the greatness and the fall of his father. Here-
after Shivaji must have lived for about two years
both at Poona which was now in Shahaji's posses-
sion as jagir under Adilshahi and at Bijapur, the
capital where every sardar had to pass some por-
tion of his life. When Shahaji subsequently got the
jagir of Bangalore and made that important city
with its fort his head-quarters, Shivaji with his
mother was taken from Poona to Bangalore by
Dadaji Konddeo, Shahaji's agent at Poona (Sabha-
sad). There he lived for about four years i. e. from

1. Orme papers mention that during the siege of Dau-
latabad by the Moguls, the wife and daughter of Shahaji
with part of his treasures were betrayed into the hands of
Khan Khanan by the treachery of Burkhurdarkhan (S. Ni.
2, 1 , p. 72 ). But there is no confirmation of this in any
account. Shivaji was born in 1630 and thus he may have
been with his mother in 1633, This report speaks of a
daughter only, it must have been a false rumour but it sup-
ports the idea that Jijabai must have had a daughter
born to her before Shivaji.

CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION 37

his 9th to the 12th, when he was sent to Poona
finally as we shall presently relate.

It my be stated here that the story of Shivaji
haughtily not making a salam to the Adilshah at
Bijapur when taken to his Durbar by Shahaji
is unbelievable. Having seen Durbars of the pup-
pet Nizamshah at Mahuli, it is impossible to believe
that Shivaji was so ignorant as to behave haughtily
or absurdly or was not acute enough to disguise his
inner motives, if he had any at that age. The story
of his drawing his sword and cutting down a butch-
er who was slaughtering a cow openly in a street
of Bijapur is still more unbelievable. Even in
Mahomed Adilshah's time, cows could not have
been slaughtered openly in streets, nor could
Shivaji have escaped the consequences of such a
folly in the capital of a Mahomedan king. Such
stories are invented to adorn the tale of a hero's
life, as indicating his future activities and we may
safely set them aside as unbelievable.

A Hindu child's education begins usually at
his sixth year, and we may be sure that at that age
Shivaji's education began under good teachers,
whether he was at Poona or at Bijapur or at Banga-
lore. In his childhood, on the various forts, Shivaji
made elephants, horses, soldiers and forts of mud,
as boys usually do even now in Divali days 1 . Later
L SB 7, 21-27.

38 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

when he was fit to learn he was taught writing
in company with the sons of ministers of his age 1 .
Shiva ji, we may also believe, heard conversations in
Sanskrit in the court of Shahaji at Bangalore where,
as described by Jay a ram a, there were many learned
pandits with Shahaji and southern pandits usually
speak fluently in Sanskrit even now, though the
case is different in Maharashtra. We may believe
Jayarama when he says that Shahaji took an intel-
ligent part in the poetical disputations which were
held before him among the learned pandits of his
court. It is thus probable that Shivaji from his ninth
to twelth year which were passed at Bangalore,
not only learnt reading and writing but also listen-
ed to conversations in Sanskrit and got accustom-
ed to its phraseology. This will explain how
hereafter he listened intelligently to Mahabharata
recited at Poona to his mother and grasped its
lessons firmly. It is at least certain that Shivaji
knew how to read and write t as is proved by
several documents from the English factories them-
selves. 2 There are even found a few papers which
have some words in Shivaji's hand-writing at the
end as was usual in state documents of that time.
The idea that Shivaji was so illiterate that he
could not even sign his name, first started by Duff,
is not correct and may hereafter be given up.

1. SB 9,71,74.

2. At the end of PS 848, Revington's letter from

( on next page )

VII. INVESTMENT WITH JAGIR
AUTHORITY

When Shiva ji was 12 years old or had enter-
ed on his 12th year 1 , he was invested with the
powers of a jagirdar by Shahaji and sent to
Poona with his mother Jijabai. It may be stated
here that Shahaji had six children from Jijabai,
only two of whom were then alive, namely Sam-
bhaji and Shivaji. Whether Shivaji was Jijabai's
last son cannot be stated as the wording in Shiva-
Bharata is not clear. It is indeed probable that
during the twelve years from Shi vaji's birth in 1630
to his being sent to Poona in 1642 A. D., Jijabai
might have had children born to her but they all
died in infancy. As her last living son, Shivaji
must have been her darling and she gladly went
to Poona to superintend his education as well as to
act as regent during his minority. It is suggested

Surat ( No. 26, English Records ) we have the word*
*' Deliver the letter into his ( Shivaji's ) own hands; for
these Brahmins make letters to speak what they please. **
No. 60 f English Records, is a letter by Gyfford in which
he says, " Yesterday arrived a letter from the Rajah
written by himself to Raoji. " PS 3, 1640 and 1643 t which
are Surat letters* refer to traeties signed by Shivaji.
1. SB 9. I.

40 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

by Bakharkars that Jijabai was disliked by her
husband and was hence sent away. But there is
nothing whatever to show that she was on bad terms
with her husband. Moreover, in no Rajput prince's
family do we find wives sent away either owing
to being disliked or owing to quarrels between co-
wives. Further Jijabai's eldest son Sambhaji who
was now about 18 years old and already a cap-
tain, was retained by Shahaji at Bangalore. The
sending of Jijabai with Shiva ji to Poona cannot,
therefore, suggest that she was disliked by Shahaji.
Two reasons may be assigned for this action.
Shahaji was usually at a great distance from his
jagir of Poona, being mostly on active service ;
and when he was finally settled at Bangalore, he
was almost always far away from Poona. Jagir
business consequently suffered, though entrusted
to an able administrator like Dadaji Konddev.
Absentee land-lordism is always troublesome and
unprofitable and Dadaji Konddev must have asked
for a master present at the head-quarters of the
jagir. Document PS 493, dated February 1644,
is no doubt issued in the name of Shahaji Raje,
but this does not mean necessarily that Shahaji was
then in Poona. Applicants might have gone as far
as Bangalore to obtain fresh sanads of inam and
letters might have been issued from there by Sha-
haji* Even supposing that the document was

INVESTMENT WITH JAGIR AUTHORITY 41

issued at Poona by Shahaji himself, we must admit
that Shahaji had gone over to Poona from Banga-
lore with great trouble. To prevent such incon-
venience to both prince and subjects, Shahaji must
have thought it proper to transfer the jagir of
Poona to his son Shivaji who at twelve years of
age must have shown signs of capacity and to keep
him at Poona under an affectionate regent and an
able guardian. Secondly as Sambhaji was kept with
himself at Bangalore, he would not aspire to the
Poona jagir, and he might be given that of Banga-*
lore, the more important one of the two, he being
his eldest representative. It was thus a kind of
partition made by the father during his life-time.
Shahaji had no doubt another son by his younger
wife ( supposed to be his favourite wife ); but, as
will be seen hereafter, Bangalore was intended by
Shahaji to be given to Sambhaji and not to
Vyankoji, his step-brother.

The transfer of jagir to Shivaji in the records
of Bijapur with its consent must have taken some
time and although Shivaji was sent to Poona as
jagirdar in 1642, Shahaji continued to issue
sanads fill 1644 and perhaps later still. We hence
have a sanad issued from Shivaji's court 1 so late as
20th Jan. 1646, bearing the seal 'Pratipachchandra-
rekheva &c.' used throughout his life. We can
1. PS 510.

42 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

explain this document and this seal on the supposi-
tion that the Poona jagir now stood in Bijapur
records in Shivaji's name. We must note that a
jagirdar then was entitled to have a seal, to make
grants, to administer territory and to have minis-
ters, the chief of them being called Peshwa- Shiva-
Bharala properly states that when Shahaji sent
Shivaji to Poona f he gave him Amatyas (ministers)
and Maulas ( hereditary servants ) as also ele-
phants, horses, soldiers and birudas ( titles, seals
etc. }, banners and treasure. 1 Thus Shivaji was
practically an independent jagirdar under Bija-
pur with separate ministers, seal, banner etc. at the
age of 1 2. He began to learn work under the
supervision of his mother who, as regent, appears
herself to hear complaints, 2 and Dadoji Konddev
still issued orders on various subjects. 3

We can thus understand how a Dutch letter
from Vengurla, dated April 1660, 4 describing
Shivaji's career says, " The late Sultan Mahomed
Adilshah has taken into service a captain named
Shivaji who was a son of the old Shahaji ... He is
revolting against His Majesty for the last 10 or
12 years."

1. SB 10, 25-26. 2. PS 513 of 2nd April, 1646.

3. Ibid. 4. PS 830. Trans, p. 74, S. N. I. 2. l

INVESTMENT WITH JAQIB AUTHORITY 4>

NOT Ei Extent and Nature of Shivaji't Fief.

It would be interesting, though somewhat difficult, to
determine the extent and nature of the fief which Shivaji
got at this initial stage of his life We have several
papers which give us information on this subject. Pergana
Poona was the centre of this fief; it was in the possession
of Shahaji from his early clays ( 1628 A. D. ), A p erg ana
had ' tarafs ' (sides) and ' karyats ' (sub-divisions). Docu-
ment No. 22, p. 42, Rajawade Khand 18 ( PS 2093 ), is a
sanad issued from the court of Shivaji dated S'. 1600 (1678
A* D* ). It gives the purport of the application presented
by Moro Vithal Honap, Desh-Kulkarni of Karyat Maval
as follows :-

" I am the Desh-Kulkarni of pergana Poona for the
villages of Taraf Haveli, Sandus, Kare Pathar, Nirthadi,
Karyat Maval, Sandas Khurd ( small) and Taraf Patas.
When Nizamshahi conferred on Maharaja ( Shahaji ) the
said pergana (Poona) and when Maharaja sent havaldars
and karkuns to callect revenue, I sent my gumastas to
every Taraf; for Karyat Maval, Gupchup was sent as my
agent and he rendered accounts and presented papers to
me; but on his acting harshly against the ryots, he was
removed and Namaji Landa was sent as my gumasta from
Poona. When Nizamshahi disappeared ( for a time ) and
when Murar Jagdev, in behalf of Adilshahi. burnt Poona
and annexing the pergana founded a new chief town at the
foot of Daulat Mangal fort on Bhuleshwar hill, I went to
reside there and Namaji worked in Karyat Maval, render-
ing accounts and presenting papers to me there. When
finally Poona was given in mokasa to Mahafajasaheb
(Shahaji) byAdiishahi (in 1636 A. D.) and when he under
him conferred on Saheb (Shivaji) the mokasa of Karyat

44 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Maval and on Mambaji Raje Bhosale (Shahaji's nephew)
of Sandas Khurd and when Havaldaras and Karkuns
went to Karyat Maval on your (Shivaji's) behalf, Namaji
dishonestly represented himself as Desh-Kulkarni and on
my complaint, Saheb ( Shivaji ) ordered the rights of
Desh-Kulkarni to be given to me." etc. etc.

It appears from this account that Shahaji had the idea
of establishing Shivaji in Poona even from 1636 and that
Shahaji's mokasa included the whole of Poona pergana
with Patas. We have already stated that when Sbahaji
finally entered the service of Adilshah, all the territory
between the Bhima and the Nira was conferred upon him
and thus Indapur and Supa perganas must also have
belonged to him ; and these must have been transferred to
Shivaji at this time (1644) as jagir. We have the mention
of Indapur being under Shivaji in another important paper
dated 25th October 1646. 1 This is a sanad issued by Shivaji
Raje to Kaji Sajju of Kan confirming his old inam for ser-
vice in the masjid, "in spite of the fact that he did not take
out a sanad when Shivaji obtained the mokasa in San aeet
{1645) June." This shows that Indapur had also been trans-
ferred to Shivaji's name in 1645* Pergana Supa similarly
seems to be in Shivaji's possession as shown by document
PS 518 which is a sanad issued by Shivaji in 1646 July for
Loni in Supa and which mentions that the pergana was
granted to Shivaji in San seet. Another document of 1646
clearly speaks of Shivaji being in possession of pergana
Supa* PS 556, a sanad issiued by Shivaji and dated
July 1649, has the words %& *&?$ $ !$*W $&m 3ffctif
5flc*r. 5l3f here means simply at present and not in that
particular year. The word w*fltf are definite and show that
I. See alto PS 520, 521 and 522, dated 30th October 1646.

INVESTMENT WITH JAGIR AUTHORITY 45

that pergana was granted in 1645. That Supa and Bara-
mati were in the possession of Shahaji in May 1639 is prov-
ed by document PS 453, though in 1 636 they seem to be in
possession of Kheloji Raje (PS 4I8) Shahaji must have
got this pergana lying between the Bhima and the Nira at
the end of 1636 when he got the other perganas in jagir*

The fief of Poona, Supa and Indapur which Shivaji
now got was in its nature a jagir though it is spoken of
as mokasa in several papers* We must state here that the
difference between a jagir and a mokasa was that the
former was enjoyed hereditarily for the upkeep of dignity
while the latter was given temporarily for administration.
If given for maintenance of troops, it was called saran-
jam. In the interesting petition to Adilshah PS 710 ( in
which Shahaji says, "We are Rajput" ), Shahaji uses both
the words jagir and saranjam with respect to territories
solicited for maintenance of troops. Shahaji originally
got this fief as mokasa and mokasas were resumable;
indeed m ok as as were constantly resumed. Thus PS 417,
dated 25tli March 1637, issued by Shahaji to Deshmukhs
of Poona has the words " now this pergana has been as-
signed to Saheb as mokasa/' while PS 244, dated 25 July
1628, states the same thing fF^f *h<*w\ etc. and refers to
the first acquisition by Shahaji of this pergana from
Nizamshahi. Indeed another earlier document, PS 272,
dated 17th May 1628, is issued by another authority for
Pimpri in Poona and so is PS 246, dated 15th April 1627,
issued by still another authority to Moroba Gosawi in the
same village Pimpri. The mokasa, however, re-gifted
bv Adilshah to Shahaji after the fall and division of
Nizamshahi was practically a jagir though described in
documents as mokasa; for that the same perganas were

-46 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OP MARATHA SWARAJ

transferred to Shivaji, son of Shahaji, shows that the
mokasa was looked upon as hereditary.

Jagirdars had apparently no judicial powers and
there was a subedar of the Prant, appointed by the central
government Suba means a division and subedar, a go-
vernor of that division who had authority over all the
mahals in that division. Another precaution taken by
the central authority was the keeping of important forts in
jagxr territory under the direct control of government,
though lesser forts were all owed to remain in the possession
of the mokasdar or jagirdar. Thus the forts of Kondana
and Purandar in Poona district were under officers ap-
pointed (Namjad) by the central authority* Purandar
was at that time in the hands of a Brahman killedar and
Kondana, of Dadaji Konddeo who was also subedar of
the district. He was no doubt the karbhari of Shahaji. But
his position as subedar and killedar was derived from
government* We have two documents, PS 456 and 457, in
which Dadaji Konddev is called subedar and he settled
disputes between litigants through panchayats of the caste
(got). This position may have been conferred on him,
after or before he was appointed agent by Shahaji. In
any case it shows that the central government could not
find a Mahomedan officer to hold the fort in such a dis-
tant and mountainous part and this weakness was taken
advantage of by Shivaji as we shall presently relate*

The jagirdar or mokasdar had no right to dispossess
Deshmukhs or Desh-Kulkarnis who, as hereditary officers
of the karyats. continued to function as revenue officers
even when governments were changed. Their services,
however, were at the disposal of the mokasdar in all
matters. They kept forces and with these they atteneded

INVESTMENT WITH JAGIR AUTHORITY 47

on the subedar also, whenever required to do so. The
Deshmukhs of the twelve Poona mavals ( or valleys of
revulets issuing from Sahyadri and passing through
gorges ) were a turbulent people and were usually kept
under powerful Maratha mansabdars for that reason.

The income of Shiva ji's jagir is said by Sabhasad to
be 40 thousand hons* It may be noted here that the coin
then current in Maharashtra was hon ( Sanskrit-suvarna )
which was worth about Rs. 3. Rupee currency was intro-
duced later by the Moguls. This income does not seem
strange as the revenue of the Poona district at present is
about sixteen lakhs'of rupees. We must remember that the
value of the rupee was then much greater than now and
that Shivaji's jagir was about one-half of the present dis-
trict of Poona. Sources of revenue then were also not
many, consisting, as revenue did, chiefly of land-tax. The
jagirdar had of course all this income to himself, but the
mokasdar rendered account to the central authority, when
paying the fixed revenue into the government treasury
minus his dues. If the revenue fell short or if it increased
by the extension of cultivation, the loss or profit belonged
to the mokasdar* It was the duty, therefore, of a mokasdar
and subedar where themahals were khalsa (directly under
government) to see that the territory was fully cultivated*
The jagirdar for his own benefit naturally saw to the
prosperity of the jagir by the extension of cultivation and
also the protection of the territory. For the latter purpose,
he had to maintain a force, and also to keep some forts
well armed and provisioned. We can thus understand why
Shahaji, when he sent Shivaji to Poona as jagirdar, sent
with him forces, elephants, horees, and sufficient treasure.
He also had a new seal prepared for him with the well-

48 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWAUAJ

known inscription as already stated. PS 555, a letter from
Shivaji's court addressed to Karkuns and Deshmukhs of
pergana Poona, dated July 1 649, has this seal on it and it
confirms the Inam of Mahadaji Gosavi in Moreshwar vil-
lage. Inam differed from jagir and mokasa, being the
free grant of a village or lands for religious purposes or
for meritorious service and was always inheritable.

Why Maharaj Shahaji Raje issues sanads and orders
in Poona, Supa and Baramati perganas hereafter can be
explained only on the supposition that he was still looked
upon as the superior authority. If he had given the
mokasa of the three perganas to Shivaji under himself*
he had no power to interfere in their administration, and
the more so, if he had got the perganas actually trans-
ferred to Shivaji in state records. But we have such letters
as PS 649, dated 10th November 1653. addressed to Kar-
kuns and Deshmukhs of pergana Poona about the Bidwai
of the bazar at Charholi which was issued specially lo con-
firm an old order by himself and there are others also
issued similarly. We may grant that Sh aha ji's authority
was respected by Shivaji even after he was made the
jagirdar. Shivaji h*d, however, sometimes to assert his
own authority as we shall presently see.

VII. PLAN FOR FOUNDING SWARAJ

Installed in Poona as a jagirdar who had to
administer a territory, to maintain a force and
even to take part in actual fighting, Shivaji was
naturally taught subjects required to be learnt by a
ruling chief. He was no doubt taught athletics, as
was usual then with all Maratha boys, and the art
of wrestling or Niyuddha* But he was also taught
riding horses and elephants and to use the sword,
the bow, the javelin and the patta ( a long slender
sword ). The art of building forts and making
them impregnable and also arithmetic, so essential
for taking accounts, were further taught 1 . " He be-
came a good archer and marksman, and skilled in
the use of the various swords and daggers then
used in the Deccan." ( Duff ). He also learnt ex-
amining and valuing jewels, an art necessary at
all times for a prince 2 .

At sixteen thus Shivaji was, with his precocious
faculties, master in all the arts of governing. Even
ordinary princes in those days were fully grown up
at that age and it is no wonder that in 1646 A. D.
Shivaji was fully equipped to take up the duties of
a ruling jagirdar, being trained under the care of

1. SB 10, 35, 38. 2. SB 10, 39.

S.4

50 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

an affectionate mother-regent and a successful ad-
ministrator-minister. As stated before, this was
also the age of majority, according to Hindu law,
and Dadaji Konddev gradually gave him work in
the various departments of administration as a
matter of training.

More than all, however, Shiva ji was instructed
in politics as taught in the Smritis and the Nitis, and
specially in that unique work of the ancient Hindus,
the Mahabharata, which is both Smriti and Niti.
This vast poem not only teaches Moksha ( absolu-
tion) and Bhakti (devotion), but it also teaches the
highest lessons in Dharma and Artha, /. c. morality
and worldly affairs. Shivaji drank deep the les-
sons given in this wonderful work, lessons whichjhe,
in his future life, put to the test and followed. He
was deeply religious also and a devout Hindu.
But the lesson which Bhagacadgita taught him was
to respect the religions of others and Shivaji
throughout his life respected mosques and fakirs,
not insulting them even in revenge. He confirmed
their existing grants and even gave them new ones.

But a devout Hindu that he was, he could not
brook to see Hindus trampled under foot as
Hindus, Hindu temples and idols desecrated and
cows slaughtered daily in all places. More painful
was the sight of Hindu young women carried
away not only in times of war but even in times of

PLAN FOR FOUNDING SWARAJ 51

peace- 1 And he resolved to free Maharashtra from
the curse of a foreign religion and a foreign yoke.
" He resolved, even at the early age of 1 5, to acquire
independence for this. " ( Amatya ) He realised
the difficulties that confronted him and he knew
that he was incurring the danger of losing his all.
This was the thought which had kept back many
brave Maratha captains, like his own father Sha-
haji, from attempting the task. Their short-sighted
selfishness induced them to keep what they had
and serve even a foreign oppressive master. This
was the very caution which Dadaji Konddev gave
Shivaji when he came to know of his resolve. But
Shivaji was, we think, too deeply imbued with the
political maxim of the Mahabharata to be moved
from his purpose :

"No man beholds good things with't danger braved.

He sees them only if through danger saved. " 2
Dangers must be braved if one has to achieve great
things. One may perish in the attempt but without
encountering such dangers one cannot achieve the
highest goal.

The means Shivaji had at hand were also
quite insufficient to cope with two such powerful
enemies as Delhi and Bijapur. But the Maha*
i. f%cfi ffitft snsptf sretffcft I ( Ramadas ).

52 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

bharata story of Vidula and her despairing son
must also have, we think, strengthened his purpose.
Vidula's son had been defeated by his enemy and
coming back to her he wept in despair. " Go back/'
said the heroic Rajput mother, " to fight again
with the enemy. I would rather see you die on
the battle-field, than live a beggar.*' " How can 1
fight and get success?" whined the boy- The mother
gave the immortal advice 1 ,

"Arise, awake and yoke yourself,
To th'noble work of your up-lift,
Believing that it will be so.
With minds unfaltering and unpained. **
* Where are the means ? " again said the boy and
Vidula replied, " Take these ornaments and make
a beginning, and if you put your heart into it, you
will collect men by thousands." It seems to us
that Shivaji was full of the story of Vidula and her
son, when he resolved to establish Swaraj for the
Hindus, with the small nucleus of the jagir he had
and to stake all and even his life in the attempt ;
for the Mahabharata says in Rajadharma Shanti-
parva : " One thousand horsemen of one mind
are enough to conquer the whole world." The
great bane of the Hindus was that they never were
of one mind. Manuchi has observed, " If only the

PLAN FOR FOUNDING SWAKAJ 53

Rajputs combined, they would drive away the
Mogul/' The Kshatriyas always fought among them-
selves throughout Indian history like the Greeks ; it
was only once that, like the Greeks again, they
formed a confederacy against the common enemy ;
but it did not long subsist. The Mogul emperors knew
how to pitch one Rajput king against another and
thus to use the bravery of both against their own
enemies. Maratha captains, similarly, in the
Deccan fought with one another and were em-
ployed by Mahomedan kings similarly for their
own benefit. Shivaji had marked even in child-
hood how Shaha ji had almost succeeded in holding
his own against both Delhi and Bijapur with the
help of Maratha captains. If Shaha ji had taken the
advantage of the name of the puppet Nizamshah for
combining Marathas, Shivaji could combine them in
the name of religion, of Brahmins and cows, of
idols and the safety of the honour of Hindu women.
The Hindus from ancient times had no doubt no
idea of nationality and patriotism was a sentiment
unknown to them; nor did Shivaji work under patrio-
tic motives ; but the cry of religion in danger always
appealed to the Hindus and Shivaji resolved to
combine all in an attempt to establish Hindavi
Swaraj Shivaji, even at that age, knew that he
had to work cautiously and to employ artifice, if
necessary, as the Mahabharata showed how S'ri-

54 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Krishna himself employed artifice against artful
and iniquitous foes. And the maxim that every
thing was fair in war was especially applicable to
a weak but just party, fighting against powerful
enemies, and was accepted among all peoples.
But he never forgot the immortal truth preached by
the Mahabharata 1 , " Victory comes only to the
righteous/* as will amply appear from the mani-
fold incidents in Shivaji's eventful life.

The first thing that Shiva ji did after this resolve
was to secure friends and co-workers among the
Deshmukhs and landholders of the twelve Mavals
which formed part of his jagir and though we have
as yet no contemporary record to prove it, Tanaji
Malusare, Yesaji Kank and Baji Pasalkar were
among the first to join him and swear allegiance to
his scheme of establishing an independent Hindu
kingdom. The next thing was to form an army
of Mawalas who inhabited the several khores or
valleys. They were an indigent lot of weaklings, but
independent in spirit like all peoples of mountainous
lands, such as the Pathans, the Bhils, the Swiss or the
Highlanders. They were also accustomed to climb
steep hills and descend them with ease. Shiva ji him*
self acquired all the qualities of a mountaineer in his
constant movements among the hills. The Mawali
infantry was most useful in mountain warfare where

PLAN FOR FOUNDING SWARAJ 55

cavalry and artillery could not be employed.
Thirdly, Shiva ji took possession of all the neglected
forts in his jagir and even built new ones on im-
pregnable hill-tops- Among such forts was the
fort of Rajgad built at a little distance from the old
fort of Torana in the Muse khore. We have no direct
contemporary evidence to show that Shiva ji began
his career by seizing Torana as the Bakhars relate
and by representing to the Bijapur Durbar that he
was working for their benefit, as Kafikhan repre-
sents. For even Duff states that the jagirdars were
entitled to keep in repairs old forts in their jagir.
forts in such distant and out of the way places being
usually neglected by the central government ; and
thus there was apparently no necessity of making
any representations to the Bijapur Durbar.

Shiva ji soon gained the confidence and respect
of the people and his friends by his just and gener-
ous administration and stern and speedy justice*
PS 5 10, dated January 1646, gives interesting details
of a case in which he dealt out stern punishment
tempered with generosity even at the age of 16. It
is an order issued from the court of Shivaji Raje
to the Deshmukhs and Desh-Kulkarnies of Taraf
Khede Bare, declaring that the Mukadami of
village Ranze was vacant, as: the Mukadam Babaji
Gujar had committed criminal breach of trust in
respect of revenue and on being called before the

56 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MA RATH A SWARAJ

court had been found guilty and punished by the
cutting of his hands and feet, but that Babaji Gujar
of Kille Purandar having applied for the post was
given it as he was Baba ji's relative and undertook
to take care of him. We must remember that punish-
ments awarded in India from the most ancient
days down to Mahomedan times were severe and
included the cutting off of hands and feet, especially
of thieves caught red-handed.

This order must have been confirmed by or
given with the consent of Dadaji Konddev. But
the veteran administrator died in 1647 A. D. 1 and
at the age of 16 Shivaji was full master of his
jagir. He began to put into execution his plan
of founding Hindavi Swaraj. The first thing he
had to do was to take possession of the government
forts which in a manner overawed the country.
He took possession of Kondhana easily as success-
or and master of Dadaji Konddev. The Havaldar
of the fort was a Siddi Mahomedan and it is said
that he was bribed to acknowledge Shiva ji's autho-
rity. Then again Nilkanthrao, the Brahmin keeper
of fort Purandar for government, also died at this
time and his sons fighting among themselves in-
vited Shivaji as a friend to arbitrate. Shivaji with
his Mawalas went to the fort. and inducing the bro-

1. Phalgun S'. 11 SM568 ( 7 March ) D. V. Kale
in B- 1. H. M. Quarterly, X, p. 53.

PLAN FOB FOUNDING SWARAJ 57

thers to accept inams from him elsewhere took
possession of the fort These two acts were in open
rebellion against the Bijapur Durbar which now
thought it necessary to take strong measures
against Shivaji's rebellion, so to speak.

Note : It is often argued that Shivaji could not have
had, at this early age, the high ideal of freeing Maharashtra
from Mahomedan yoke and establishing Hindavi Swaraj*
Two documents, however, show that Shivaji had already
formed this plan. PS 645 is a sanad issued by Shivaji to
a Brahme of Chakan dated July 1653 and states " I have
become entitled to a Rajya through the power of your
Anushthana ( continuous prayer to God ) and have
obtained whatever desire I had. " Shivaji had formed
the plan of acquiring Rajya thus before this and had asked
Brahme to perform Anushthana for him for the same* PS
631 is another interesting sanad issued earlier in February
of the same year to a Brahmin of Mahabaleshvar granting
inam for performing a similar Anushthana of the sun for

* Abhyudaya * (prospsrity) and this was sanctioned by his
mother, who thus seems to have sympathised with Shivaji
in his high design. These two documents prove to our
mind that Shivaji, at least from 1647, had begun to work
for the liberation of Maharashtra. The word Rajya here
cannot mean his own jagir which he had got already
before any Anushthana was begun ; nor can the word
Abhyudaya mean ordinary prosperity, which had already
come under the able administration of Dadaji. And in
1653 he had already become, as we shall find later on,

* de facto independent king*

IX. IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE OF
SHAHAJI

It is not necessary for us to describe in detail
the arrest of Shahaji about this time, narrated
with such poetical fulness in Shiva-Bharata and his*
torical exposition in Muhammadnama. As stated
already, when Shahaji finally entered the service
of Adilshah in 1636, he was employed by him in
extending his dominion into South India from west
to east, called by the general name of Karnatak;
and Ranadullakhan, Shaha ji's friend, was his com-
mander or nominal superior in these operations.
Ranadullakhan died soon after ; but Rustam Jama
as also others who succeeded in command were
well disposed towards Shahaji. Shahaji conquer-
ed so many chiefs and places in Karnatak that
Muhammadshah rewarded him with the territory
and fort of Bangalore worth five lakhs of Hons.
There Shahaji usually hereafter resided and carried
on his expeditions against many Karnatak 'poly gars*
who had become independent after the fall of
Vijayanagar. When Mustafakhan was sent a*
commander in January 1648 to conquer Jinji,
Shahaji with his army of 12000 horse assisted him*
Differences arose between them and Mustafakhan

IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE OF SHAHAJI 59

secretly obtained an order from Adilshah to im-
prison Shahaji for insubordination, as Muhammad-
nama relates. Shiva-Bharata suggests that Shahaji
had become so popular among the Hindu chieftains
of Karnatak that " they gave up all fear of Ma-
homedans." 1 Virabhadra who had been dispos-
sessed by Ranadullakhan was thus reinstated in
his jagir by Shahaji. It is probable that Muhammad
Adilshah also thought that Shivaji was rebellious
through the connivance of Shahaji who himself
was also getting too strong. Whatever the motive of
the king in ordering his arrest, Mustafakhan with
the help of Ma rath a chiefs who were inimical to
Shahaji, especially of Baji Ghorpade, succeeded in
suddenly surprising Shahaji in his camp one morning
and, overpowering him, arrested him. He was sent
a prisoner to Bijapur together with the plunder of
his camp, and there he was placed in respectable
confinement, as Muhammadnama relates.

But after a time, Muhammad Adilshah had to
release Shahaji on certain conditions, as his en-
deavour to conquer Sambhaji and Shivaji was
unsuccessful. Sambhaji sallying from the fort of
Bangalore and Shivaji from that of Purandar defeat-
ed Faradkhan and Fattehkhan respectively sent
against them. In this his first regular encounter with
Bijapur forces, Shivaji was fully victorious. Shiva-
1. SB 11,7.

60 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Bharaia describes this battle near Purandar with
Fattehkhan with imaginary details, in the fashion
of the Mahabharata, though with many real names
of captains fighting on both sides. The Bijapur
force encamped at Shirval beyond the Nira was
attacked by Kavaji, Shivaji's commander, and was
first dispersed. Fattehkhan who next advanced
himself against Shivaji invested the fort of
Purandar and attempted to scale the walls from
the 'machis/ or lower hill plain stretches, but in a
sally from the fort, Fattehkhan was defeated and
his lieutenant Faraskhan was killed. Gunfire is
mentioned in Shiva-Bharata as employed by Shivaji
in this battle, besides volleys of stones thrown
from slings by Mawalas. This success proved
that Shivaji was now fully equipped with arms and
men to fight the forces of Bijapur with all their
preparation and practice of long standing. Though
not mentioned in Muhammadnama, this campaign is
confirmed by a parwana to the Deshmukh of
pergana Shirval 1 , dated 10th August 1649.

Shiva-Bharata relates that Muhammad Adil-
shah after weighing the pros and cons decided to
patch up the quarrel by pardoning Shaha ji and re-
leasing him on condition that Shahaji remained
loyal to him and Shivaji gave up the fort of Sinhgad
and Sambhaji that of Bangalore. He was afraid

I. PS 562.

IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE OF 8HAHAJI 61

that if he did any harm to Shahaji, his two valiant
sons would carry on the fight with greater vigour
and not only his new possessions in Maharashtra
and Karnatak would be lost, but he would lose even
his own kingdom. 1 To these two enemies coming
from the west and the south would be added, he
thought, a third more powerful one from the north,
namely the Mogul. Shahajahan was watching for
an opportunity to devour Adilshahi in the same
way as he had already done Nijamshahi. We
have evidence that Shivaji at this juncture request-
ed Shahajahan to move for the release of Shahaji,
in two letters 2 from Murad, son of Shahajahan,
subedar of the Deccanat this time, dated November
30, 1649, and addressed to Shahaji and Shivaji re-
spectively; the one to Shahaji speaks of Shivaji's
request to intercede for the liberation of the former
forgiving his former faults. Muhammad Adilshah
must have thought it prudent to pardon Shahaji rather
than incur the enmity of three powerful adver-
saries and accordingly released him. Shahaji must
have been kept waiting in Bijapur for some time
hereafter, before he was employed again, pending
the delivery of the forts demanded from Shivaji
and Sambhaji, as also for watching their conduct.

It seems probable that when Shahaji was sent
again into South India, he assured Muhammad Adil-

1. SB 15,23. 2. PS 574 and 575.

62 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

shah of his loyalty, but that as for Shivaji, he must
have told the king that he was no longer respon-
sible for him and that the king might punish him, if
rebellious, in whatever manner be thought proper.
Among the supporters of Shahaji, imprisoned
and released along with him, were Kanhoji Jedheof
Kari, his most trusted captain, and Dadaji Krishna
Lohakare. In the army of Shahaji, there were
naturally many Maratha captains from among the
Deshmukhs of the Mawal country and the Jedhe
family was most intimate with him. Jedhe Karma 1
states that Shahaji at this time asked Kanoji to join
Shivaji and support him through thick and thin.
Shahaji foresaw that Shivaji would incur danger
in the pursuit of his high plan, of which he must
have been already cognisant and with which he
probably sympathized ; and now that Dadaji
Konddev was no more, Shahaji in his fatherly
anxiety, transferred jthe services of Kanhoji Jedhe
to his son. Indeed Shahaji must have been pleased
with his son's heroic defence of Purandar against
Faraskhan and must have also thought of reward-
ing him by the transfer of his most trusted lieu-
tenant Kanhoji Jedhe as also of Dadaji Krishna.

Note Shahaji was released on 16th May 1649, ac-
cording to the Jedhe S'akavali and this date is borne out
by PS 566 & 568* The first is a sanad issued by Bijapur

1. Shiva-Ch. Pradip, p. 46.

IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE OF SHAHAJI 63

officers to Moroba Gosavi on 5th September 1649, and
in it Shahaji is styled Maharaja and Farjand and the
second is a sanad issued by Maharaja Shahaji to Desh-
mukhs of pergana Rane Bennur in favour of Mulla Hussein.
These show that the title Maharaja was also bestowed
upon Shahaji on his release and also Farjand. How
long Shahaji remained in Bijapur after his release can*
not be ill Fin HIM ril tUtt********^

J gives the account of the release of Shahaji and
the reasons therefor as follows : Kanhoji Jedhe and
Dadaji Krishna Lohakare who were also in prison
were released at this time. When Shahaji met them* he
said, "We have settled a Tah' (treaty) with the Padashah
that we will pay respects from 12 villages (probably
given in Inam) and will serve in theoprations inKarnatak
where Bangalore prant with 5 lakhs of Hons has been
conferred on us in jagir. So we are going to Karnatak.
Your vatan is in Mawal prant. Our son Shiuba is in
Khede Bare and Poona. You should remain in his service
with your force. You are powerful in that prant. You
should, therefore, forcibly compel all Deshmukhs of the
whole of Mawal to obey him. If a Mogul force or even
Adilshahi force attacks him, you should remain loyal to
him and fight with these forces. " Oafh was adminis-
tered to Kanhoji and he with Lohakare was sent with a
letter to Shivaji. This also means that while Shahaji ab-
solved himself from all responsibility for Shivaji, he at
the same time gave strong forces for his 'protection.

X. THE SUPPOSED MORE-MURDERS

Shivaji felt very strongly for being compelled
to hand over the fort of Sinhgad to Bijapur, which
could thence watch his movements ; but he was
consoled by Sonajipant Dabir ( adviser ) who
advised him to look, for the present, to the conso-
lidation of his power by strengthening the forts he
had, including Purandar and Chakan, for the return
of which Bijapur did not ask. Shivaji remained
inactive for seven years, but he took advantage of
every opportunity of bringing together the Maratha
captains in the Mawal prant adjoining his own
jagir. He had already secured the friendship of
Chandrarao More of Javali. ( More is a surname
and Chandrarao is a title like Vishvasrao, Sarje-
rao etc. astutely conferred by Bedar and Bijapur
kings on Maratha captains for bravery in battle ).
Shiva-Bharala states 1 that Chandrarao had been dis-
possessed by some one but had been reinstated by
Shivaji probably a few years before this. This
Chandrarao died without a son about 1 649, as we find
from a letter of Af zulkhan to Jedhe dated July 1 649. 2
The Bakharkars had forgotten all about this Chan-
drarao and the real nature of the Javali incident, as

1. SB 13,43. 2. PS 557.

THE SUPPOSED MORE-MURDERS 65

they had forgotten all about Babaji and the real
cause of the greatness of Maloji; and they invented
a story about the capture of Javali, multiplying
Shivaji's artifices, as they had done about Maloji.
The above document is a key to the proper under-
standing of this episode in Shivaji's life. When
Shahaji was sent after his release to Karnatak, Af-
zalkhan who had taken Shahaji captive to Bijapur,
it seems, was sent by Muhammad Adilshah as subedar
of Wai, in order probably that the two might not
come together. Af zalkhan as subedar of Wai writes
in this letter to Kanhoji Jedhe, " Old Chandrarao
being dead, other people have taken possession of
Javali. I have been ordered ( nam jad ) in this connec-
tion. As you are a loyal servant, collect Hasham
(foot-soldiers) and come." It appears that the name
of this old Chandrarao was Daulatrao (Moryanchi
Bakhar) and that he died childless. There were
many More relatives, who posed as claimants and
Hanmantrao, one of them, had already taken
possession of Johar Khore. It was the duty and the
right of Bijapur, the sovereign power, to settle the
succession to the jagir of Javali. Afzalkhan, as
subedar of Wai, was, therefore, ordered to go to
Javali and settle the matter. Kanhoji Jedhe, who had
been imprisoned and released along with Shahaji
and who was in his Deshmukhi at this time under
Shivaji but who had also Deshmukhi in Wai prant,
S. 5

66 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

was properly called upon by Afzalkhan to come to
his assistance. Kanhoji having just passed through a
calamity brought about by Afzalkhan was naturally
distrustful* He asked Shivaji what to do and Shivaji
in his reply directed Kanhoji to secure a kaul (promise
of safety) and then to go himself or send his son. 1
Kanhoji promised to go to Af zalkhan's help but asked
for the Deshmukhi of Johar Khore which he would
conquer, and also for permission to maintain a force
of 200 men for Javali from his own Deshmukhi.
Afzalkhan granted him this request 2 . There are
no papers found which can show what subsequent-
ly happened ; but it seems clear from the Bakhar
of Mores and later documents that eventually a
son was adopted by the widow of Daulatrao, pre-
sumably with the consent of Afzalkhan. His name
was Krishnarao and he, with his father and
brother, became master of Javali and Hanmantrao
remained in possession of Johar Khore, probably
as a concession to his claim.

Shivaji was on friendly terms with the deceased
Daulatrao and tried to maintain the same relations
with the new master. We have already stated
that Shivaji in his plan of establishing Swaraj
wished to take all Maratha jagirdars within the
confederacy ; but many of them refused, either

1. PS 55a

2. PS 564 and 567, dated September 1649.

THE SUPPOSED MORE-MURDERS 67

through loyalty to the Bijapur Durbar or through
fear of losing their long enjoyed jagirs. We witness
a similar phenomenon in Italy, when in 1871 the
Duke of Piedmont threw his lot with the revolution*
aries and revolted against Austria. The Duke of
Piedmont, like Shivaji, called upon other Italian
states to join him, but many of the Dukes refused
to do so and remained neutral or fought on the
side of Austria. The present master of Javali,
Krishnarao, and his own father ( janaka ) who
was his guardian, being installed by Afzalkhan,
were naturally all the more loyal to Bijapur and
gave contemptuous replies to Shivaji's proposals*
The Bakharkars relate that Shivaji then resolved
to acquire Javali by fraud and force and sent
Raghunath Ballal Sabnis, as his agent, with the
ostensible purpose of demanding in marriage
Chandrarao's daughter but with secret instructions
to murder him. Sabnis while in a conclave with
Chandrarao stabbed him and his brother Suryajirao
with a dagger. In the consequent consternation,
he succeeded in getting out safely and reached
the camp of Shivaji, who already was prepared
with an army to attack Javali. With his own army,
assistedby contingents of the forces of Kanho ji Jedhe,
Bandal, Selimkar and other Deshmukhs, Javali was
conquered and annexed. But all this story of the
Bakhars is a myth and a blasphemy. There was no

68 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

daughter to be married at Javali. Even Sabhasad
who gives the same story does not say that Raghu-
nath Ballal went to arrange a marriage, but says
that he went there as a He jib (a political ambassa-
dor) from Shiva ji and told Chandrarao that he had
to speak on several matters and to settle a treaty
( Tah rah karane ahe ).

The real incident appears to be as follows
from the above letter, Shtva-Bharata and Jedhe
S'akavali* When the new Chandrarao refused to
join Shivaji in his plan, Shivaji decided upon at-
tacking Javali, as it was an important place on the
way from the ghat-matha of Wai to Konkan and
could impede Shiva ji's movements. He, therefore, as
challenged by Chandrarao, attacked Javali 1 ; and in
the sally made from the town, Chandrarao's (janaka)
own father was killed; but Krishnarao, the real Chan-
drarao, and his brother escaped to the fort of Rairi
in Konkan which was in their possession. Shivaji
pursued them and invested the fort. Eventually, by
the intercession of Selimkar who was a devoted
follower and friend of Shivaji, Shivaji allowed the
two princes to come down and on promise of their
entering his service took them to Poona in May 1656
(J). Krishnarao and his brother, however, breaking
their promise, entered into treasonable correspon-
dence with Bijapur secretly. But their letters were

I. Pausha V. 14 SM577 or 15 Jam 1656 (J)

THE SUPPOSED MORE-MURDERS 69

intercepted and shown to them. Shiva ji ordered
their execution for treason and they were accord-
ingly beheaded near Poona.

That Chandrarao (janaka or real father) was
killed in battle is apparent from Shiva-Bharata
wherein the word battle is used and that Bajraj and
Krishnaraj were defeated is also stated therein. 1
Their beheading was an execution and not a
murder. Sabhasad relates that Hanmantrao, who
had taken refuge in Chaturbet, was murdered by
Sambhaji Kavaji who gained admittance to the fort
on the excuse of his marriage relationship. But this
is doubtful as Shiva-Bharata relates that other adher-
ents and relatives of More who opposed Shivaji
were killed presumably in open fight- 2 In any case
Hanmantrao could not have been murdered by
Sambhaji Kavaji by an artifice, if Chandrarao and
Suryajirao had previously been murdered by
Sabnis by a similar artifice.

The acquisition of Javali was extremely valu-
able as it held a strategic position. Shiva-Bharata
properly describes its importance when it says, 3
" Whoever has Javali, has Wai prant, the whole
range of Sahyadri, and the corresponding sea-
coast " Shivaji could not have founded Svarajya
without first acquiring Javali. The Javali jagirdars,
like other Deshmukhs of Mawal prant, were usual-
1. SB 18,4- 2- SB 18, 7. 3. SB 18, 18.

70 SHIVA J I THE FOUNDER OF MA.RATHA SWARAJ

ly fighting with others, sometimes even imprisoning
tenants and we have evidence that Javali committed
aggressions at this time on other Deshmukhs who
were in Shivaji's favour. There was certainly a
cause for attacking Javali; but we believe that
Shivaji made this acquisition with the sole motive
of founding Hindavi Svarajya* As Sabhasad puts
it f '* Svarajya cannot be founded *\ thought Shivaji,
"without destroying Javali.'* 1 Indeed we think the
episode of Jarasandha in the Mahabharata, in
which Jarasandha was attacked by the Pandavas,
may have been before Shivaji. Yudhisthira wished
to perform Ra jasuya or the sacrifice of declaration
of empire and Shrikrishna said, 4< You cannot do
so unless Jarasandha is conquered." Even on
modern principles the attack on Javali was justifia-
ble. The acquisition of independence by Maharastra
could not be achieved without subjecting the recal-
citrant Mores of Javali ; and Shivaji had either
to win over Javali or extinguish it. Why Bijapur
Durbar and Afzalkhan were oblivious of these
proceedings may be explained by the fact that
Muhammad Adilshah was ill at this time and there
were factions at the Durbar in view of his impending
death. Shivaji immediately made arrangements for
the prosperity of the jagir by assigning lands to
Mawalas and also for its safety by building a fort

(S)

THE SUPPOSED MORE-MURDERS 7 1

on a high hill near the source of the Krishna, the fort
which is known as Pratapgad. Shivaji also built
here a shrine dedicated to his tutelary deity Tulja-
bhavani. Moropant Pingle to whom this work was
entrusted, it is said, executed it expeditiously .
This must have taken, however, some time and
we do not know the exact date of the opening of
this shrine. J does not mention it and the papers
of this shrine have not yet been available for
inspection.

Muhammad Adilshah died soon after this
event in November 1656 (J).

XL TIME AND PLACE FAVOURABLE
FOR SHIVAJl'S PLAN

Javali territory was not directly under Bijapur.
The jagirdars also often fought among themselves*
Bijapur, therefore, was not much moved. But
emboldened by this acquisition, Shivaji committed
aggressions on territory directly under Bijapur and
even under Delhi. Circumstances, both by time
and place, were favourable for such aggressions.
It would be proper to stop here a while and exam-
ine in detail what these circumstances were.

The Mahomedan kingdoms also fought constant-
ly among themselves. Maharashtra was conquered
by Allauddin Khilji and Malik Kafur about 1300
A. D. and in the dismemberment of the Delhi empire
after Muhammad Taghluk, Deccan declared inde-
pendence under Ahmedshah Bahamani in 1347.
Gulbarga, and subsequently Bedar, was chosen as
capital on the frontiers of Telangan or Warangal
and Karnatak or Vijayanagar. The Hindus who
never had any national sentiment were happy
under Bedar kings as they did not interfere with their
religion and also left leading Maratha captains in
the enjoyment of their fiefs* The revenue adminis-
tration was entirely in of hands of the Hindus and

TIME AND PLACE FAVOURABLE FOB SHIVAJI'S PLAN 73

we find devout Hindus like Damajipant and Janar-
danpant appointed governors of provinces like
Mangalvedhe and Daulatabad. Weak kings suc-
ceeding, the kingdom of Bedar fell to pieces and five
kingdoms came into existence after the death of
the last able minister of Bedar, Muhammad Gawan,
about 1489* The Nizamshahi of Daulatabad and
subsequently Ahmednagar, comprised the most
part of Maharashtra and was generally tolerant
The people were contented, especially under
Malik Amber, the able minister of Chand Bibi. But
the five kingdoms were also usually at war with
one another, except at one time when they com-
bined against Vijayanagar and obtained a signal
victory over it at Talikot in 1563. The Mogul
kingdom in the north founded by Babar in
1 526 soon became powerful and four successive
able emperors extended its dominion over the
whole of Northern India. The Moguls now aspired
to conquer the southern Mahomedan kingdoms.
They first easily swallowed Imadshahi of Berar
and then Nizamshahi of Daulatabad in 1636. The
question why the North failed to conquer the South
in ancient times, when Vikrama or Harsha made an
attempt to conquer it and why it succeeded under
Allauddin or Jehangir may be explained by the fact
that the Deccan was now divided, while the Mogul
empire in Northern India was united, the Mogul

74 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

emperors being always able to keep subordinate
generals and subedars under control. The centri-
fugal forces were at work even in the north and
they succeeded after Muhammad Taghluk and again
after Aurangjeb when the Mogul empire fell to
pieces. But for about 200 years, the personal ability
of the emperors was too strong for these forces and
kept the empire united. Shivaji saw clearly that
Bijapur and Govalkonda, like Ahmednagar, were
bound to fall sooner or later before Delhi and he
rightly argued that he could carve out a kingdom
from Bijapur territory during its struggle with Delhi.
Even at this time Aurangjeb, the Mogul viceroy of
the Deccan, in conjunction with Mir Jumla, the erst-
while Peshwa of Govalkonda had almost destroy-
ed that state. At Bijapur Muhammad Adilshah died
at this juncture and Ali Adilshah succeeded.
Aurangjeb alleging that he was not a son of
Muhammad Adilshah invaded Bijapur with the
consent of Shahjahan and invested that city. He
had almost accomplished his object when news of
the severe illness of Shahjahan reached him and
patching up a treaty with Bijapur and securing a
large treasure from it as tribute, he started for the
north to try conclusions with his three brothers in
the struggle for the throne.

Besides this constant fight between the Maho-
medan kingdoms, there was another weakness in

TIME AND PLACE FAVOURABLE FOR SHlVAJl'S PLAN 75

them in that succession to the throne was usually
contested. Probably the Mahomedan law did not
lay down hard and fast rules for kingly succession
and princes almost always fought among them-
selves, the successful prince usually murdering
all other claimants. Even the powerful Mogul
empire became weak at this time owing to the
struggle between Dara and his brothers. And
Shivaji found an opportunity for making aggres-
sions even on the Mogul empire at this juncture.

A third cause of weakness in the Mahomedan
kingdoms was the corruptibility of high officers;
and even Mogul officers were not above corruption.
How terribly disloyal were Mahomedan officers
generally may be seen from the results of the trea-
chery of Fattehkhan in Nizamshahi, Mir Jumla in
Kutubshahi and Khan Muhammad at this very time
in Adilshahi. He was the prime minister at Bijapur
(May 1657) "and shamefully neglected every
opportunity of impeding the march of the Moguls, "
(Duff), who reached Bijapur and invested it The
feeling of nationality was as absent among the
Mahomedans as among the Hindus.

The fourth circumstance which favoured Shivaji'*
cause was the religious intolerance of the Maho-
medan kings at this time and their oppression of the
Hindu religion. Fortunately for the success of Shiva-
ji's Hindavi Swaraj, Aurang jeb, it may even be said.

76 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

succeeded in his ambition and became the Mogul
emperor by imprisoning his father and murdering
his brothers. Had Dara succeeded, the intolerance
of Aurangjeb could not have had an opportunity to
inflame and unite the Hindus to whom the cry of
religion in danger alone appealed. The British
government in India is accepted by all people be-
cause, taking a lesson from the evil results of Maho-
medan and Portuguese intolerance, it abstains from
all religious oppression. Indeed, it does not encourage
any one religion. Akbar set this example of
religious tolerance and by placating the Hindus, the
Jains, the Parsis and others, he even became popu-
lar with all. This principle of religious tolerance
was at this time given up to some extent by Shah-
jahan as pointed out by my friend Mr. D. V.
Apte, *' In 1633 Shah jahan issued a proclamation
forbidding the building of new temples or the re-
pairing of old ones. In the Panchakroshi of Benares
alone 76 temples, old and new, were thrown down. "
Prisoners again who accepted Islam were liber-
ated while those who refused were slaughtered. 1
In the Deccan Mohammad Adilshah in a private
circular addressed to his provincial governors
directed among others ( 1 ) the confinement of Hindus
to karkuns' places and prohibition of their appoint-
ment to mamlats, (2) the prohibition of the public
1. Padsliah-nama, J. I. H., VIII, 1, p. 45.

TIME AND PLACE FAVOURABLE FOB BHIVAJI'S PLAN 77

celebration of Hindu festivals like Dassera and
Divali, and (3) the imposition of a tax like Jijaya
on Hindu workers and traders and rich men in
proportion to their income, Mahomedans and
converted Hindus being exempt. 1 These circum-
stances were favourable to Shivaji's plan for
founding Swaraj.

A few further facts which favoured Shivaji's plan
may be given from our paper on the Mahomedan king"
doms in the Deccan before Shivaji. (I) Another weakness of
these Mahomedan kingdoms was the frequent struggle bet-
ween minister and master to obtain power. When the prince
was weak and did not lead armies, he was usually sup-
planted by the minister who often ascended the throne
himself. We find the Peshwas following this course in
later Mar at ha history though they did not ascend the
throne themselves. The reason why ministers or governors
succeeded in their ambition is found in the fact that the
people had no idea of nationality and ambitious aspirants
found supporters not only among the people but also among
nobles and captains who joined them for their own advance-
ment. This explains why in countries like England where

the national feeling is strong, no governo^ - : l,Jfi

aspires to the throne or becomes trouble^ :
ous. (2) The foreign rulers had not
to compel obedience of the native trc < i
forts were entrusted to Maratha con
from Persia and Arabia had near f

1. Apte's paper in S. M. Quar-
from Par asms* Historical Writing. I \
published Bakhar of Adilshah.

78 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

turers from these were absorbed by the Mogul armies. The
Siddis alone often came and reinforced Deccan armies;
but the Maratha contingents chiefly kept up their strength.
(3) These Mahomedans were accustomed to live in open
plains though hot. The plains of the Deccan were more
fertile and more paying than the hilly Mawals; (they were
also easy of attack though difficult of defence). The capi-
tals of these states were, therefore, in the open plains. The
Mawals of Poona, being difficult of attack and easy of de-
fence, were thus the proper place for unfurling the banner
of independence. (4) Lastly the system of ryotwari tenure
which obtained in Maharashtra from the days of Bedar
rule, treats the individual cultivator as the owner of
the soil and as in direct connection with government with-
out an intermediary Zamindar. This difference of tenure
in Northern India and Maharashtra has an influence on
the character of the people and to some extent explains
why the movement for independence arose and pros-
pered in Maharashtra. The Zamindar being rich feels
himself bound up with the existing rule and usually sup-
ports it like feudatories. The cultivators under him being
tenants at will and rack-rented are apathetic in any change
of government as it does not affect their lot. Peasant pro-
prietors, on the other hand, are interested in self-govern-
ment as it means fixity of and leniency in taxation. The
peasants of Maharashtra, therefore, forwarded Shivaji's
attempt for founding Swaraj which thus was not like a
jungle fire appearing and spreading haphazard but has
launched in the place best fitted for it.

XII. CONQUEST OF KONKAN

Shivaji was now strong and experienced
enough to take advantage of these favourable cir-
cumstances and resolved to extend his dominion.
He saw that the dissensions among the Mahomedan
kingdoms were his opportunity ; but he also realised
that he must maintain a large army if he wished to
extend his power and a large army required an
overflowing treasury. He decided upon acquiring
money by raids on the neighbouring prosperous
Mogul empire. The right of a conquering power to
plunder enemy-country has been recognised through-
out human history, from the most ancient times
down to the modern, along with the right of the
strong power to attack the weak one without cause.
Even at this time, Aurangjeb had attacked Goval-
konda on a paltry excuse and without a just cause.
( The son of Mir Jumla was imprisoned by
Kutubshah, but Auranjeb had no right to interfere
in his behalf ). Seeing Aurangjeb engaged in this
affair, Shivaji suddenly attacked and plundered
Junnar. This town was near his frontier in Mogul
territory at this time. He acquired much wealth
and captured several horses which were specially
useful as they were needed to increase his cavalry,

80 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

a force best fitted for sudden and speedy expedi-
tions* This happened in May 1657 1 , the year
next after the conquest of Javali.

Shivaji did not stop with plundering Junnar, but
proceeded to Ahmednagar and succeeded, though
partially, in plundering that town also. All this
plunder was safely taken to Rajgad which Shivaji
had properly made his capital, having lost Sinhgad.
He had also fortified Pratapgad and Javali was also
a safe place. Shiva ji now had a compact territory
from Poona to Javali and even had the ghat portion
to the east, as he had removed Sambhaji Mohite from
Supa in the previous October 2 , because he being a
brother of Shaha ji's second wife was disobedient to
him. The story of the Bakharkhars is that Shivaji
arrested Sambhaji in Phalgun after gaining ad-
mittance to the fort of Supa on the pretext of
asking for Holi Bakshis ; but this is as usual an
exaggeration of Shiva ji's tricks and J gives the date
of this event as AsVin and not Phalgun.

When Aur an jeb after patching up a treaty with
Bijapur went hastily towards the north in January
1658 3 , he left strong instructions to Nasirkhan,
subedar of Ahmednagar, and also to Mir Jumla to
take care lest Shivaji might make a sudden plunder-

1. Vaishakh SM579(J).

2. As'vinaVadya S'.1578(J). 3. Paush SM5790X

CONQUEST OF KONKAN 81

ing raid 1 . By his letter to Ali Adilshah 2 he returned
to him the fort of Parenda, Konkan territory and
Vengi Mahal which had been ceded to the Moguls
by Bijapur and also remitted one fourth of the
tribute of one crore of rupees exacted from it, in
return for helping him against his brothers. He also
ordered him not to take Shiva ji into his service and
if taken at least to employ him inKarnatak. It was
probably feared that Shiva ji, like his father, would
offer to serve one king against another and thus
safely offend the weak ; for Shivaji had even
now offered to enter Mogul service and attack
Bijapur. Shivaji, profiting now by the absence of
Aurangjeb in the north, attacked and took North
Konkan which as stated in the above letter had
been ceded to the Moguls but had been just return-
ed by Aurangjeb to Bijapur. North Konkan with
Kalyan as its capital was thus open for attack.
Thistpart of the country had, before 1636, belonged
to the Nizamshahi and had only been under Adil-
shahi for twenty years and was, therefore, not yet
well assimilated. It was, therefore, ceded to the
Moguls without much difficulty. Shivaji attacked
and took Kalyan, with its fort on the Durgadi hill
looking over its port, without trouble. There while
repairing the fortifications, Shivaji got it is said, buri-
ed treasure. This happened just on the eve of Diwali
1. PS 743. Z. PS 744, dated 1657-1658-

S. 6

82 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

or November 1657 1 . Bhivandi was also taken as
also the fort of Mahuli which was the most im-
portant fort in North Konkan where Shahaji had
made his last stand for the puppet Nizamshah
against Delhi and Bijapur. Shivaji immediately
made arrangements for the administration of the
territory by appointing Dadaji Bapuji as Subedar
of Kalyan and Sakho Krishna Lohakare as Haval-
dar of Bhivandi, and gave them sufficient Hasham
or infantry force (J).

A letter from Aurangjeb to Shivaji written on
14th February 1658 2 has been found which is im-
portant as it refers to these events. It was written
after Aurangjeb had defeated Jaswantsingh near
Ujjain in his progress to the north. It was in re-
ply to a letter from Shivaji in which the latter
probably had explained to him his conquest of
Kalyan and had offered to hold it for Aurangjeb
along with other territory that he might be per-
mitted to conquer from Bijapur. Aurangjeb says
in reply that Shivaji's offences, though unpardon-
able, would be forgotten and that he should send
Sonajipant with such proposals as he wished to
make- Aurangjeb was a match for Shivaji in dis-
simulation. Shivaji in the meanwhile pushed on his
conquest as far as Chaul and even further in
South Konkan. On the sea-coast were Portuguese
1. A*VinVadyal2,S/!579(J). 2. PS 739.

CONQUEST OF KONKAN 83

settlements at Bassein, Revadanda, Chaul, Dabhol
and Goa- The governor of Goa in a letter dated
5th May 1658 1 refers to Shiva ji's activities in South
Konkan at this time and mentions the sending of a
force of eighty sepoys to Chaul for its protection.
But Shivaji was astute enough not to molest the
Portuguese and create strong and fresh enemies in
Konkan. He appears to have pushed on and con-
quered the refractory chief of Shringarpur named
Surve with the help of Shirke (Sabhasad). Lakham
Sawant was favourable to Shivaji's plan of found-
ing Swaraj and entered into correspondence
with Shivaji, as we learn from the next Goa letter
dated 5th May 1658, stating that Bijapur had sent
Rustum Jama specially to punish Lakham Sawant,
but that the latter had defeated him with a loss of
1500 men. Rustum Jama, the letter stated, had f
however, siezed the fort of Rangana. Lakham
now openly joined Shivaji's cause and the latter
naturally confirmed him in all his possessions and
rights and titles. The terms of the treaty settled
between them on March 5th 1659 are very impor-
tant 2 and were as follows :

1. Lakham Sawant agrees to maintain an
infantry force of 1 500 men for half the revenue of
the jagir and to send it to help Shivaji whenever
needed.

1. PS 547. 2. PS 765 dated Phalgun Vadya 7 S'. 1580.

84 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

2. Shivaji keeps to himself the fort of Phonda
with its territory and Lakham should help to defend
the fort whenever needed.

3. Lakham would fight against the Turuks
( Mahomedans ) along with Shivaji, keeping touch
with him through his Vakil for the establishment of
Swaraj (this word used here is specially worth
noticing )

4. The officers of Shivaji who would visit
the jagir from time to time for settlement of re-
venue should be assisted in their work.

5. The Desagat or Lordship of the territory
and vatans and the title Bahadur of the Sawant
are confirmed and the forts and the thanas would
remain in the possession of Sawant.

These articles clearly show that Shivaji was
now a king de facto and was looked upon as such by
Maratha jagirdars in Konkan and Ghat-Matha who
threw in their lot with his cause. The exemplary
punishment inflicted by Shivaji on Javali and its
Mores who refused to come under Shivaji's
Swaraj scheme probably confirmed the wavering
Maratha captains and from this time, they helped
him with their whole heart and might, as will
appear further on. Even the English soon realised
that this was a movement by the Hindus to
establish their Swaraj, as Revington addresses his

CONQUEST OF KONKAN 85

letter dated 13th Feb. 1660 to Shivaji as "The
Captain of the Hindu forces. tn

These exploits and aggressions on Mahomedan
kingdoms are brought together with the usual poeti-
cal artifice, in a speech of Adilshah in Shiva-Bharata.
Says he to Afzalkhan, " Shivaji does not respect
my orders. By his treacherous movements, the
Sahyadri territory has become asahya (intolerable)
to me. Shivaji might have drowned the lord of
Rajapur (Siddi) in the sea t if my father had not
helped him in time. He has conquered Chandraraj
with his sons and ministers and has taken possession
of Javali. ( These events happened in Muhammad
Adilshah's time.) He has now conquered and an-
nexed that province of Nizamshahi which I had
given to Aurangjeb in treaty together with all
mines, forests and forts, thus insulting me and
also Aurangjeb* He plunders my towns and vil-
lages, following a bandit's life, by sudden and un-
expected raids. He has levied contributions from
towns in Mogul territory including even Ahmed-
nagar. Even the lord of Delhi does not, therefore,
feel secure in the possession of the Nizamshahi
territory taken by him. My father was compelled
to release Shahaji in fear of his prowess. Chief*
tains are flocking to his standard hoping for pre-
ferment, as his power and wealth are daily increas-

1. PS 801 ER 4.

86 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWAEAJ

ing. He threatens to take the whole of my king-
dom 1 /* We give this long extract from Shiva-
Bharata to show that that contemporary poem also
refers to these exploits of Shivaji and thus con-
firms their authenticity.

Note A It would be proper to bear in mind here the
following dates given in the Thana Gazetteer regarding
Kalyan : (1) The Senale tank, with its basalt masonry
bank, was built in 1506 A. D. ( Nizamshahi rule). (2)
The Portuguese once conquered the town in 1536. They
burnt the suburbs again and carried away booty in 1570*
(3) In 1648 Shivaji took the town/ In 1674 he granted
lease to the English to establish a factory there. (4) The
wall about the city was begun by Mahatbarkhan, Minister
of Shahajahan, and was completed in 1694 A. D. His
tomb or makarba is on the other side of the above tank.
(5) The Jumma mosque in the city was changed into
Ramji's temple between 1760 and 1772 in Peshwa times.
( It was changed with the consent of the Mahomedans, as
we have heard from old men, the mosque being now in the
midst of the Brahmin quarters ). (6) In the citadel on the
creek ( Durgadi fort ) the Ma rat has built a Durgadevi
temple behind the mosque. The image in the temple was
stolen away in 1876.

It seems from the above dates that when Shivaji took
the town there was no wall around it and that though he
plundered the rich Mahomedan traders, he did not pull
down any masjid, as is wrongly stated in Marathi trans-
lation of a verse in SB. *J|ftlfeft<*m: means not Masjids, but
houses, full of great wealth, ( SB 18. 52. ) It is admitted
- by all that Shivaji never pulled down any masjid.

1. SB 17,12-29. Z. This date is not correct (J).

CONQUEST OF KOMKAN 87

Note B Jedhe S'akavali states that Kalyan was
taken by the king on A'svin Vadya 12 (25th November
1656). Bakharkars mention that the town was taken by
Abaji Sondev; this, however, may not be inconsistent as
the words * by the king ' include his lieutenants. The story
of the beautiful daughter of the ruler of Kalyan taken
prisoner and sent to Shivaji by Abaji Sondev and her
being sent back with honour and presents by Shivaji to
her relatives is also related by Bakharkars and may be
accepted as adding lustre to Shivaji's character, though
Shiva- Bhar(it<t does not mention it and thus in a way
creates doubt about its truth* This poem cannot be ex-
pected to be silent about it. Silence, however, is not posi-
tive proof unless mention is absolutely necessary.

Xffl. THE MOMENTOUS MEETING

The aggressions of Shiva ji had now reached a
point where they could not be safely overlooked
and Bijapur, being now at peace with Aurangjeb
and the Portuguese, resolved to punish and de-
stroy him. The young Ali Adilshah 1 and the Badi
Sahebin or Dowager Queen ( S ), spoken of also as
the Rani of the Deccan in an English letter from
Rajapur dated 10th December 1659 2 , sent Afzal-
khan against Shivaji on that mission. Shiva-Bharata
gives the account of this conflict in great detail in
several chapters and many contemporary letters,
Indian and foreign, also refer to it, but with details
differing in several points- We will in this chapter
give the history of this momentous meeting from
these several documents.

Afzalkhan started from Bijapur with a very
large force, estimated as 10,000 horse and foot in the
above Rajapur letter, 3 with many captains under
him such as Ambar, Yakut, Musekhan, Ankushkhan,
Hasan Pathan. Many Maratha captains such as
Ghorpade, Pandhare, Kharade, Mambaji Bhosale
and others joined him with their contingents 4 . The

1. SB 17, 40. 2. PS 721. 3. ER 1 Revingtoiu
C SB 17,55-58.

THE MOMENTOUS MEETING 89

expedition was determined upon already in May,
as farmans issued in the name of Adilshah himself
to the several Deshmukhs of Wai prant to join
Af zalkhan with their forces, prove. Among these
that issued to Kanhoji Jedhe dated 16th June 1659 1
is before us and it clearly says that the object of
the expedition was to destroy Shivaji ( l^%5 q^^n
33T3F ) It was thus a struggle for existence for
Shivaji and also for his idea of Hindvi Swaraj.
Some Deshmukhs, like Khopade of Antroli, thought
it safe to join Afzalkhan, but others like Kanhoji
Jedhe loyally stuck to Shivaji's cause. He was
warned by Shivaji that he might lose his vatan
( hereditary holding ) ; but he swore allegiance ta
Shivaji even at the risk of .his vatan and joined
him with his force (J). Afzalkhan started pro-
bably in Kartik ( October ) when the rains usually
cease and taking Tuljapur and Pandharpur on the
way came to Wai. 2 He insulted the idol of Tulja
Bhavani at Tuljapur, the tutelary deity of Shivaji, as
Shiva-Bharata says, 3 and broke it into pieces accord-

1. PS 774.

2. Some relate that when Afzalkhan started, he
slaughtered his 63 wives in johar; but this statement i&
absurd as he was not a Rajput nor was he going to im-
molate himself. On the contrary, he was so puffed up and
confident of success that such an idea could not have
entered his head.

am WIG'

90 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ing to Sabhasad. People at Tul japur do not, how-
ever, think that the present idol at Tuljapur is a
new one. Afzalkhan similarly desecrated the holy
city of Pandharpur and the temple of Vithoba, as a
document dated 8th October 1663 distinctly states. 1
It is certain that the present idol of Vithoba at
Pandharpur is older than Afzalkhan and, there-
fore, also certain that the idol must have been
removed and concealed by the Pujaris when
Afzalkhan came to desecrate the temple.

Shivaji hearing of his moving towards Wai
left Rajgad and went to Javali. He left his capi-
tal in charge of his mother and also of his son,
Sambhaji, enjoining all his officers and sardars to
fight on in the (name of his son, if the worst happen-
ed to him. Shitia-Bharata explains this movement
of Afzalkhan towards Wai by noting the impor-
tance of first taking the possession of Javali which
was the key to both Konkan and Ghat-Matha and
also by the fact that Prataprao More, who alone
of all Mores had escaped and taken shelter with
Adilshah, suggested this move, as the capture of
Javali would be of greatest importance strategical-
ly. Perhaps Afzalkhan went to Wai first because
he had personal knowledge of the district, being its
Subedar even then (PS 756, 758) and did not per-
1. PS 984. This simply mentions

THE MOMENTOUS MEETING 91

sonally know the district about Poona, which he
could easily attack from Wai and Javali.

Afzalkhan may also have intended to take
possession of Javali and the neighbouring pass of
Parghat while undefended, by making a feint of
advancing against Poona and then suddenly turn-
ing towards Wai; but Shiva ji with his army fore-
stalled him and was already at Javali. Afzalkhan,
therefore, probably thought it prudent, instead of
fighting with Shivaji in the high mountains, to
secure his object by apparently peaceful negotia-
tions and asking Shivaji to submit. He had, no
doubt, artillery with him, called Gulikayantra in
Shioa-Bharata, to attack forts* The poem also
speaks of camels in Afzalkhan's army and thus
supports the possession by him of "a number
of swivels mounted on camels " ( Duff ); but
in the difficult passes, they might prove more a
hindrance than help and Afzalkhan wished to try
to secure his object by negotiations. It seems
probable that the first envoy for peace went from
Afzalkhan 1 . The message given in Shiva-Bharata
again enumerates, by poetical artifice, Shivaji's
aggressions and is worth reproducing here 2 . Says
Afzalkhan, " You have seized the Nizamshahi terri-
tory given by Adilshah to the red (the Moguls are
-always differentiated in SB from other Mahome-

1. SB 18,46, and (J). 2. SB 18,48,58.

92 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

dans by the epithet Tamra ) with its hill-fort ( this
refers probably to Shivaji's taking of Mahuli ).
You have confined and surrounded the Lord of
Rajapuri. (This refers to Shivaji's attack on the
Siddi of Janjira and his taking possession of the plain
part ot his territory). You have seized the pros-
perous kingdom of Chandrarao. You have taken
Kalyan and Bhivandi and dismantled the palaces
of Mahomedans full of riches in them. Those
Mahomedans whom you have despoiled of all
their possession there, are still enraged against
you like serpents- You have barred the road of
Muslim religious men by stopping them ( from pil-
grimage ). You have assumed the emblems of a
Chakravarti ( independent king ruling over others )
fearlessly and even sit on a golden throne." These
facts we have already recorded and they are
proved from other documents also and thus con-
firmed by them. 1

"Conclude peace by humbly giving up the hills
with the' forts, Sinhgad, Lohgad, the lofty basalt
rock ( probably Raj gad ) and Purandar and the
territory between the Bhima and the Nira to the
Lord of Delhi. The Adilshah begs of you also that
you should give him Javali which you have seized

1. . g. PS 777, dated 6 August 1659, mentioning also
Shivaji's having built fighting ships in the creeks of
Kalyan and Panwel.

THE MOMENTOUS MEETING 93

from Chandrarao More." This message mentions
Sinhgad which, it appears, after being returned to
Adilshah for the release of Shahaji, had subse-
quently been taken back by Shiva ji. It also shows
that the territory about Sinhgad had been ceded
by treaty to the Moguls and hence was to be de-
livered to Aurangjeb and Javali was to be return-
ed to Adilshah, as it was in his territory. Here
Af zalkhan is made to use the word ' begs. 9 showing
his anxiety to conciliate Shivaji.

It may be noted that Shiva ji's attack on Danda
Rajapuri or Janjira must have taken place after
the taking of Kalyan which is referred to in a
Portuguese letter of the time. Adilshah*s speech
already referred to speaks of a previous attack by
Shivaji when " he had almost drowned the Siddi in
the sea." The Siddi first held the Janjira jagir under
Nizamshah, then under Adilshah, when Muhammad
Adilshah helped him against Shiva ji's attack. This
second campaign of Shivaji against Janjira does
not appear elsewhere. 1 He subsequently sent Sham-
rajpant Peshwa against it but he was defeated.
The Siddi, thereafter, offered allegiance to the
Moguls. This little Mahomedan fief continued to be a
thorn in the side of the Maratha empire throughout
its history and it often committed acts of cruelty on
the Hindu inhabitants of the neighbouring villages.
1. PS 791, Dec. 1659, mentions Shiva ji's taking the town.

94 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Shivaji was counselled submission by his ad-
visers as fighting with such a force armed with
cannon was unthinkable. But Shivaji felt that sub-
mission meant death at least to his high ideal of
Hindvi Swaraj and he must have remembered the
maxim of the Mahabharata, " Unless you brave
danger, you cannot see prosperity." 1 He, however,
consented to accept Af zalkhan's proposal for a meet-
ing, personally to settle the terms of submission.
He suspected treachery, but he was ready to meet
stratagem by stratagem. It appeared that he might
even lose his life in a physical tussle with his tall
and powerful adversary. But Shivaji had more
confidence in himself than his advisers and he
resolved to brave even death. He artfully asked
Afzalkhan to come up to Javali as he was afraid
to meet him down in the plain, surrounded by his
army. He sent his own Vakil, Pantaji Gopinath,
to assure Afzalkhan of hospitable and honourable
reception at Javali ( about 12 miles from Wai ). 2
The Pant was also commissioned to secretly as*
certain the real motive of Afzalkhan in asking
for a personal interview, instead of settling the
terms of submission through Vakils as usual.

On being assured of proper reception, Afzal-
khan, against the advise of his captains, like Shivaji,
in self-confidence resolved to march into the moun-
i. ^ <fon<Miw ^c *H?nft <rwfa. 2. SB 19, 18.

THE MOMENTOUS MEETING 95

tainous region with all his army and to meet Shiva ji
near Javali- His army, infantry, cavarly, canon,
elephants, camels, etc., (the Shiva- Bharata poeti-
cally describes ) marching with great difficulty and
loss through the Radtondi Ghat from Wai, reached
Par, near Javali and encamped there. At a safe
distance of about 3 miles from this camp the place
of meeting was fixed at the foot of the Pratapgad
fort where Shivaji was. Each party, being distrust-
ful of the other, the details of everything connect-
ed with the meeting were settled. Afzalkhan,
armed as usual, was to arrive with his attendants at
the mandap set up for the meeting, accompanied
by ten body-guards, who were to stay at a dis-
tance of an arrow throw 2 . Afzalkhan was to arrive
first in a palanquin taken by four bearers. Shivaji
was to come next, also armed as usual, and also
with ten body-guards to be kept at a distance and
to meet Afzalkhan in the mandap, each one taking
2 or 3 attendants with him inside. Afzalkhan ac-
cordingly came to the mandap a little before mid-
day and Shivaji soon after came to the momentous
meeting. On that noon of Margashirsha S'uddha 7th
S'. 1 58 1 , Thursday, a date specially recorded in
Shioa-Bharata and also exactly the same in Jedhe
S'akavali, corresponding to 10th November 1659,
and at that juncture, trembled in the balance the
2. SB 27, 7.

96 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

fate of Maratha independence as also of Bijapur
rule. As poetically expressed by Shiva-Bharata,
* 4 Shivaji knew what was in his opponent's heart
and he knew what was in Shivaji's. God alone
knew what was in the mind of fate and the people
knew that a peace was being arranged*" 1

3
: I) ( SB 20, 57 ).

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ.

Bhawani Temple, Pratapgad.

XIV. THE TERRIBLE TUSSLE

Destiny declared its decree within half an
hour. A terrible tussle took place at the meeting
which is described by Shiva- Bharata as follows :
Both came to the meeting armed. They had pro-
bably the same arms usually taken by sardars,
namely, a sword in the left hand, and a dagger in
the waist band. Bakhars mention a Vaghnakh or
tiger's claw in the left hand of Shivaji and a Bichva,
scorpian tail, concealed by Shivaji in his sleeve.
But this is not possible as a tiger's claw put on the
right or left hand could not have escaped notice,
even though the sword might not have been held
by that hand. Moreover, Shiva-Bharata does not
mention it and it is as usual an exaggeration of
later writers. Both had at least two men with
them inside the Mandap, one body-guard and the
other the Vakil, Krishnaji Bhaskar on Afzalkhan's
side and Pantaji Gopinath on the other. The
body-guard of Af zalkhan was Sayyad Banda and
of Shivaji, Jiva M aha la. They were no doubt
chosen for their tried physical strength and bravery
and their names deserve to be recorded in history.
Having a white Maratha turban on his head sur-
mounted with a Tura ( crest ) and a saffron-colour-

S. 7

98 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ed long coat over a steel corslet, and bearing in
one hand a sword and in the other a patta, Shivaji
advanced to the meeting. Afzalkhan seeing him
rose and giving the sword in his hand to his atten-
dant, in order to induce confidence in Shivaji, ad-
vanced; and with a loud but kind voice said, " You
impertinent boy, you neither serve Adilshah nor
the Lord of Delhi but follow a crooked path. 1
will catch hold of you and taking you to Bijapur
bend your neck before Adilshah/' Suiting his ac-
tion to his speech and adding " You, Shahaji's son,
give me your hand and embrace me,** Afzalkhan
caught hold of Shiva ji*s neck with his left hand and
drawing him near thrust his dagger into his side.
The blow was evaded by Shivaji wriggling his body.
But other documents say that it was of no effect ow-
ing to the corslet Shivaji wore. Expert in the art of
wrestling, Shivaji succeeded in disengaging himself
and freeing his head from Af zalkhan's grip and say-
ing, "Take this sword/* thrust it into the Khan's belly.
It went through his belly upto the back and coming
out brought out his entrails. Afzalkhan caught them
in his hand and cried aloud, I am struck, kill him '*
His Brahmin attendant advanced, aiming a blow
with the sword Afzalkhan had given him. But Shiva-
ji parried the blow away with his sword. Shivaji
then with a sudden movement struck Afzalkhan on
the neck and the head rolled down. Sayyad Banda

THE TERRIBLE TUSSLE 99

with his patta ran to the attack and would almost
have killed Shiva ji with his trenchant blow; but
Jiva Mahala with one stroke of his sword severed
Banda's arm with the uplifted sword from the
shoulder. The outsiders, now hearing the melee,
came, but they were met by Shivaji's body-guards
and a regular fight ensued. Shiva ji, in the meanwhile,
whizzing about him his patta in the wield of which
he was an expert, reached the foot of the fort and
safely went to the top. The names of the ten body-
guards of Shiva ji are given by Shiva~Bharata as Sam-
bhaji Kavaji, Patoji Ingle, Yesaji Kank, Krishna ji
Gayakwad, etc. It appears clear that none of them
nor Af zalkhan's men had guns with them. Probably
they were not allowed to have them or else they
did not know their use.

The question who began the tussle is rather diffi-
cult to decide, as the two sides give different accounts
of what happened at the beginning though they
agree in other details. It is a common experience
that even eye-witnesses to an event give different
accounts owing to wrong impressions, as also their
own biases and even motives. The well-known histo-
rian, Sir Walter Raleigh, even thought that it was
impossible to write true history, when witnesses to
a murder he himself had seen gave different ac-
counts of it. The Mahomedan accounts state that
Shiva ji treacherously with his dagger wounded

100 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Afzalkhan who was innocent of any desire to harm
him* However, it is almost certain from the follow-
ing considerations that Afzalkhan must have begun
the affray. In the first place he had received orders
to kill Shiva ji as is proved by a f arman of Bijapur
actually sent to Kanhoji Jedhe already referred to.
Secondly, it is impossible that Afzalkhan could hay e
believed that Shivaji would give up all his acqui-
sitions, go to Bijapur and accept a small jagir,
without struggle, by a mere show of force or a person*
al appeal. Thirdly, the conditions laid down for the
meeting show that each side expected treachery.
Lastly, if Shivaji had intended to murder Afzalkhan
from the beginning, he would have effected his pur-
pose, without endangering his own life, by conceal-
ing men near the place of meeting and setting
them to fall upon Afzalkhan when he came to the
Mandap. Even if it be believed that Afzalkhan
intended merely to seize Shivaji and take him
to Bijapur as prisoner in the same way as had
been done to his father, it must be admitted that
Shivaji could not have been seized without a
struggle in which many persons would be killed.
Shivaji's act, therefore, cannot in any case be look-
ed upon as murder

Afzalkhan's death in the conflict naturally
gave rise to the rumour that Shivaji had inveigled
him into a trap and murdered him. Both Shivaji

THE TEEEIBLE TUSSLE 101

and Afzalkhan had met together knowing each
other's mind and it was possible that Shivaji might
have lost his life in the struggle. In that case the
rumour would have started that Afzalkhan had
entrapped Shivaji and then murdered him. Indeed,
in one of his expeditions in Kama talc ? Afzalkhan
had similarly invited the Nayak of Shira to a con-
ference and murdered him. 1 As the report travel-
led, time and distance added new embellishments.
Thus Henry Revington, writing from Rajapur a
month after on I Oth December 2 , wrote that the Rani
of Deccan sent Afzalkhan with 10,000 men to crush
Shivaji, but knowing the force to be insufficient
counselled him to pretend friendship, that Shivaji
also did the same and to induce full confidence in
him, " sent his mother as hostage, " and that the
two embraced e ach other in the presence of others,
but when they retired to talk alone, Shivaji sudden-
ly thrust his dagger concealed in his coat into
Afzalkhan's heart. Revington also adds a third
concocted rumour that Shahaji with a large force
was advancing on Bijapur. 3 In a Dutch letter 4 writ-
ten five months later ( April 1660 ) the same exag-
gerated account of Shiva ji's conflict with Afzalkhan
is given with many details such as Shiva ji's sending
his mother as hostage and his first thrusting a dag-

1. Modern Review, July 1929, p. 9.

2. PS 791 and ER 11. p. 3. 3, ( Ibid. ). 4. PS 812,

102 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ger into Afzalkhan's stomach. But even this letter
states in the beginning that the Badi Sahebin had
sent a message to Afzalkhan to call Shivaji by
sweet words to a conference and then kill him. She
had, we knew, similarly murdered three ministers
in Bijapur itself. A still later story is that given by
Grant Duff, namely, that Shivaji heavily bribed the
Brahmin Vakil of Afzalkhan sent to him and through
him induced the latter to leave Wai and come
to Javali for personal discussion. This idea seems
to have arisen from a confounding of names
in a copy of the Sabhasad Bakhar. Grant Duff
gives the name of Shiva ji's agent as Krishnaji Bhas-
kar while really his Vakil was Pantaji Gopinath
who was not Afzalkhan's agent. Krishnaji Bhaskar
was a Deshpande of Wai and was properly enough
Afzalkhan's agent- Shivaji certainly handsomely
rewarded his own agent, Pantaji Gopinath, for his
valuable service in this affair and this was perhaps
wrongly looked upon as a bribing of the Vakil of
Afzalkhan wrongly said to be Pantaji Gopinath.
His Vakil Krishnaji Bhaskar was so deserving of
Afzalkhan's confidence and loyal that he gave him
his sword when he advanced to meet Shivaji and
Shioa-Bharata relates that this Vakil fearlessly
advanced to attack Shivaji with that very sword to
kill Shivaji when Afzalkhan was wounded by him.
Pantaji Gopinath was a Kulkarni of Hivre near

THE TERRIBLE TUSSLE 103

Saswad and Purandar and was naturally with
Shivaji. The Bokil family to which he belonged got
Hivre in inam, not at this time but long hereafter.

The successful emergence of Shivaji out of this
duel enhanced his reputation for intrepidity among
his captains and soldiers. It made his cause of
Swaraj prosper among the Hindus generally who
looked upon him as under the special protection of
heaven* Shivaji's success was hailed with great de-
light by Hindus ; Brahmins especially "were pleased
at the deliverance of the basin of the sacred Krishna
river from the Mahomedan forces of Afzalkhan **
( SB ). Destiny is no doubt working in the concerns
of this human world; but the historian may explain
Shivaji f s success by two reasons. Following the
sound advice given by the Mahabharata, " Do not
trust even a trustworthy man, much less an enemy/'*
Shivaji had put on a steel corslet while Afzalkhan
relying upon his strength had failed to take this
precaution in over-confidence. Secondly, Shivaji
was young, only 29 years old, agile, skilled in
wreslting, undaunted and wary, while Afzalkhan
was old, probably more than 50 and though power-
ful, unwieldy. Shivaji had also wisely taken every
precaution and had reliable men about him. He
thus escaped not only from Afzalkhan, but also

104 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MAKATHA SWAB A J

from his army which he had requested him to keep
at a safe distance*

It was an extraordinary incident in the annals
of history and caught the imagination of the people
throughout India* Sabhasad compares the fight
between Shivaji and Afzalkhan to the duel bet-
ween Bhima and Duryodhan of Mahabharata fame,
but this is a wrong simile, Bhima being so much the
stronger and bigger. If a similar Puranic incident
is to be quoted, the fight between Shri Krishna and
Chanura would be the proper one, as Shri Krishna,
like Shivaji, was much younger and smaller than
his adversary. When Sabhasad and the Jedhe
S'akhavali state that Shivaji killed Afzalkhan by
making ekangi they probably refer to a trick in
wrestling by which a combatant disengages himself
from the clasp of his opponent.

XV. TAKING OF THE FORT OF PANHALA

JL

The peel of a war-drum ( Dundubhi ) from the
fort of Pratapgad announced the safe return of
Shivaji there, to the several detachments of his
army which were kept concealed on all sides of the
army of Afzalkhan encamped on the Par plain. It
was a signal, as already notified to them, to attack
the enemy. Detachments led by Tana ji Malusare on
the east, by Moropant Peshwa subsequently coming
from the Konkan on the opposite side by Parghat
on the west, and by Yesaji Kank and by others 1 on
other sides, suddenly fell upon Afzalkhan's army.
The encounter was fierce but Afzalkhan's army be-
ing surprised was naturally defeated. Many escap-
ed with the help of Prataprao More who knew the
hilly passes, but many were taken prisoners while
many others were slain. Fazalkhan, who escaped,
reached Wai, but his two younger brothers with
other captains were taken prisoners. Shivaji, both
manfully and discreetly, did no harm to them, but
sent them all with presents back to Bijapur. Those
of the soldiers taken prisoners, both Hindu and
Mahomedan, who wished to enter Shivaji's service
were so engaged, while others who like Ghatge

1. J mentions Kanhoji Jcdhe and BandaL

106 SHIVAJT THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

refused and remained loyal to Bijapur, were let go
with their wounds attended to. It is creditable to
Shivaji that throughout his life, he never committed
acts of cruelty and believed in the noble maxim of
the Ramayana that enmity ceases with the defeat
or death of the enemy 1 .

Shivaji obtained enormous plunder in cash,
jewels, horses, elephants, camels and other things
like tents etc. He also got cannon and guns. The
plunder is detailed as follows in Sabhasad: 65
elephants, 4000 horses, 1200 camels, many carts,
bullocks etc., besides jewelry worth three lakhs
and seven lakhs in cash and gold mohurs. This
does not seem to be an extravagant estimate.
Shivaji from this plunder did not fail to reward his
men. The widows, especially, of soldiers fallen
in battle were given pensions and the wounded
soldiers were attended to and given sums of money.
To the captains he gave horses, elephants, golden
ornaments and mokasas of villages (Sabhasad).

Shivaji naturally took advantage of this signal
victory to at once extend his dominion. He at
once came to Wai where he was joined by his com-
mander Netaji Palkar who had been called back
from the pursuit of parties sent by Afzalkhan
against Shirval, Saswad, Poona and Konkan. He
came rather too late to intercept Fazalkhan who

TAKING OF THE FORT OF PANHALA 107

took away the remnant of his force at Wai. 1 Shiva-
Bharata details the towns in the Krishna valley he
next took and annexed to his kingdom, such as Kha-
tav, Mayani, Ashte, Masur, Karhad, as also Karavir
or Kolhapur. But the greatest acquisition was that
of the fort of Panhala which was the dominant fort
in that part of the country. The fort was stormed
and Shivaji, when he surveyed it, was pleased to
find within its extensive wall circuit, palaces, wells,
gardens and well-built tanks. 2

The taking of the fort of Panhala, following
soon after the destruction of Afzalkhan and his
army, caused the Bijapur Durbar great anxiety.
They at once sent Fazalkhan who had escaped, to
join Rustum Jama who was the general in charge
of Rajapur, Kolhapur and Raybag districts and
ordered them to forthwith attack Shivaji. Rustum.
Jama, though of wavering loyalty and favourably
inclined towards Shivaji, as letters from European
traders in Konkan show 3 , led his army augmented
with forces from Bijapur against Shivaji. But he
was defeated signally near Kolhapur in a pitched
battle, described in detail in Shiva-Bharata, chapter
24, mentioning the names of generals on both sides
in the centre and flanks, as in the Gita and Maha-
bharata. Rustum Jama and Fazalkhan escaped

1. SB 23,58-61. 2. SB 23, 72.

3. PS 790,791.800,812.

108 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

and were not pursued. Shivaji remained master
of the territory he had acquired, consisting of the
present Satara district and the greater part of
the present Kolhapur state as also of the con-
trolling strong and extensive fort of Panhala.
This battle near Kolhapur was fought on Decem-
ber 28, 1659, as mentioned in the Rajyabhisheka
Shakavali, ( the date of the taking of Panhala being
a month before and time, early in the night, accord-
ing to the same authority). J gives the date of
the taking of Panhala as Margashirsha Vadya 9,
Monday 1 , and it also mentions ( without specifying
the date) the battle near Kolhapur with Rustum Jama
and the seizure of 12 elephants and 2000 horses.

A Rajapur letter, dated 19th November 1659 2 f
speaks of Shivaji's advancing against Panhala, while
another letter dated 9th December 3 speaks of his
having taken the fort. The battle between Rustum
Jama and Shivaji is also spoken of in another
Rajapur letter. 4 It describes the battle as follows :
" Fazalkhan, joining his force with that of Rustum
jama who was in Rajapur, advanced against
Shivaji. His force which was in advance was totally
defeated, many soldiers being slain ; but Fazalkhan
himself escaped. Rustum Jama was also defeated
but not with much loss and he retreated towards

I. S' 1581 (Nov. 28,1659). 2. PS 781.

3. PS 790. 4. PS 800, ER 3, p. 5.

TAKING OF THE FORT OF PANHALA 1<#

Hukeri." This suggests his being favourably in-
clined towards Shivaji, a (act actually mentioned
further on in this letter.

While Shiva ji returned to Panhala, Netaji was
sent in pursuit of the fugitives and also to conquer
territory towards the east. He took many towns,
such as Kundal, Kagal, Miraj, Sangli, etc- ( names
of about 36 towns are given in SB ). Jedhe S'aka-
vali mentions that Shivaji himself went on this
plundering expedition in Bijapur territory as far
as Gada Lakshmeshvar in Magh Shudha 14
(February 1660). AH Adilshah now determined
to send a third army against Shivaji, under a reli-
able commander. He called Siddi Johar, com-
mander of Karnul in South India, and also many
contingents of forces of the Nayaks in Karnatak
and sent him, thus enforced, against Shivaji to-
gether with Rustum Jama and Fazal who had
returned defeated.

While Bijapur was collecting an army, Shivaji
availed himself of his victory to extend and re-
impose his dominion in the Konkan also. He had
taken Kalyan and Bhivandi long before (three
years back ) and had also annexed their territory.
Southwards he had by this time taken the territory
from Chaul to Dabhol ; for even Shiva-Bharata
relates that when Afzalkhan started against Shivaji,
he sent detachments to take, besides Supa, Sasvad

110 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

and Poona, Tal Konkan also "Saifkhan Habsi (Siddi)
forcibly recovered Tal Konkan *V Dabhol must
have been lost thus for a time, but Shivaji now
sent a force to Konkan to retake the towns lost, as
also seize Bijapur property lying there in its ports.
3 ships of Afzalkhan laden with property in the port
of Dabhol were taken to Rajapur by the subedar,
(port officer), as related in a Rajapur letter 2 dated
4th February, 1660. We must remember that there
were settlements foi; trading of three European
powers in the ports of Dabhol, Vengurla and Raja-
pur, namely, English, Dutch and Portuguese. These
often intrigued against one another by bribing the
authorities at Bijapur and their transactions with
the various fighting powers are also referred to in
their letters. It is not necessary to mention these
transactions here ; it will be sufficient to note
their testimony in connection with Shivaji's doings.
Thus the long Rajapur letter 3 already referred to and
dated 10th December 1659, speaks of Shivaji's tak-
ing the ports on the west coast and also the inland
towns in Konkan. This evidences Shivaji's retak-
ing Dabhol at this time. 4 The ships of Bijapur in
the several ports were taken by the subedars of
those ports to Rajapur which was a strong and
sale place in the possession of Bijapur. But Shivaji's

1. SB 23,12. 2. PS 800; ER 3.

* 3. P 791. 4. Ditto (ER 3.)

TAKING OF THE FORT OF PANHALA 1 1 1

army even went to Rajapur and tried to seize Bija-
pur property. A Rajapur letter 1 , dated 14th January
1660, mentions Shiva ji's army being in Rajapur.
This must have been after the defeat of Rustum
Jama in December 1659. The English who na-
turally usually sided with the suzerain power, on
the plea of their own claim for money lent, did
not deliver the ships of Afzalkhan to Shivaji's
captain. He thereupon imprisoned Gyfford and
kept him confined at Kharepatan 2 . On receiving
a complaint, Shivaji ordered his release 3 and also
directed his soldiers to return every thing taken by
them. Revington in his letter 4 says, '* Shivaji is
so great and noble a person that he would do no
injustice, " a remark worth noticing here.

A Goa letter, dated 12th March, mentions
Shivaji's plundering the country as far as Bijapur
itself and defeating some Bijapur captains. It also
mentions that Shivaji's men attacked Banda and
that he was now master of all the Konkan territory
from Chaul to Banda 5 . A Rajapur letter dated 1 9th
March speaks of about three to four thousand men
of Shivaji moving about in the Konkan and taking
towns and tributes- 6 A Dutch letter, dated April
1660 from Vengurla, gives interesting details

1. PS 790, ER 2. 2. Ditto and ER 3.

3. PS 804. 4. ER 3.

5. PS 810. 6. PS 811.

112 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ef operations which may be accepted as correct
as the operations were conducted near Vengurla.
" Shivaji's men attacked Kudal fort in February.
Lakham Sawant who was still a jagirdar under
Bijapur and who was now against Shivaji collected
men and attempted to raise the siege. They were un-
successful, many allies leaving Lakham. Kudal fort
was taken, but Lakham Sawant made a second
attempt and took it on March 1 8th. Rustum Jama,
taking advantage of this victory, reported that he
had taken Kudal. He also took possession of the
fort of Phonda 'V It thus seems that when Shivaji
was invested in Panhala in April or June, as we
shall presently see, he had lost the fort of Phonda
which had been long in his possession.

1. PS 812.

XVI. THE THERMOPYLAE OF
INDIAN HISTORY

Bijapur, at this time, also applied for help to
Aurangjeb. Aurangjeb was, until now, with con-
sumate diplomacy, playing a policy of alternate-
ly patronizing the two parties. In a letter dated
3rd April 1657, written before he became emperor,
he had allowed Shivaji to keep with himself the
forts he had taken from Bijapur and had also
given him the fort of Dabhol with the territory
about it 1 . When he started for the north, he asked
Bijapur to look to Shivaji and not to take him into
its service, as already stated. After he became
emperor, he informed Shivaji, in a letter dated 14th
July 1659, of his ascending the throne and asked
him to carry out his former proposal. A Goa letter,
dated 18th December 1659, mentions that Shivaji
was supported in his aggressions against Bijapur
by Aurangjeb 2 * He thus wished to weaken Bijapur
through Shivaji and then to destroy both in their
weakness But after the success of Shivaji over
both Afzalkhan and Rustum Jama, he thought that
Shivaji was getting too strong and hence decided
to send an overwhelming force into the Deccan to

1. PS 724. 2. PS 792.

s. a

114 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

crush him and thus in a way to assist Bijapur. His
maternal uncle Shaistekhan, in command of a force
of 70 thouand horse, with artillery, and assisted by
many Rajput and Maratha captains with their con-
tingents soon arrived on the banks of the Bhima,
the boundary between Mogul and Maratha terri-
tory. The names of these captains are given by
Shiva-Bharata in a long list 1 , which it is not neces-
sary to copy here in detail. But we may state that
five Bhosale captains, one of them being Trimbakji,
son of Sharifji, who were probably jagirdars in
Mogul territory, were present as also the Maratha
heroine Raibagin, widow of Uderam of Raibag.
The force crossed the Bhima and invested the fort
of Chakan ; but Shiva ji's men who held the fort,
gallantly defended it, declaring that " while Shiva ji
fights with Johar at Panhala, we will fight with
Shaistekhan at Chakan."'

Shivaji's kingdom was thus invaded at the
same time by two powerful armies and seemed
threatened with extinction. Shivaji was con-
fined in the fort of Panhala by the large army
under Siddi Johar, assisted by many Maratha
captains who were opposed to Shivaji, like the
chief of Pali and that of Shringarpur. It seems
from Parnalakhyana that Venkoji, Shivaji's half-
brother, who was a jagirdar in South India was
1. SB 25, 40-45. 2. SB 25, 66.

THE THERMOPYLAE OF INDIAN HISTORY 115

also among the Maratha captains who joined Siddi
Johar in the investment of Panhala. This force,
in spite of sallies of detachments of Mawalas from
the fort, invested it closely. Shivaji's heroic
mother who was at Rajgad saw her son's kingdom
attacked on both sides and Shiva ji unable to move
from Panhala. She, therefore, asked Netaji Palkar,
Shivaji's commander-in-chief, to relieve Shivaji by
attacking the investing army, instead of ravaging
the country about and trying to cut off the supplies
of Siddi Johar. He, thereupon, made a sudden
attack on Siddi Johar's army in company of Hilal,
a Siddi captain, who had joined Shivaji after
Afzalkhan's destruction. In spite of the bravery
of both, they were defeated, with the loss of
Hilal's heroic son who was killed in battle. 1 This
happened about June 1660 and the army of Siddi
Johar, under orders from Bijapur, continued the
investment with greater rigour even in the rainy
season. In the meanwhile, the Mogul army " de-
stroying temples and mathas, pillaging and pulling
down the houses of Patels and Deshmukhs and
laying waste towns and villages" 2 , took Shivaji's
country about Chakan and Saswad. Shivaji became
very anxious and resolved to leave the fort of
Panhala in charge of a trusted captain 3 and go to

1. SB 26,36. 2. SB 25. 60, 61.

[ 3. Trimbak Bhaskar, SB 26, 54.

116 SHIVAJTI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWABAJ

Vishalgad breaking through the investing line of
guards. Shiva-Bharata, as usual, states that the
goddess Bhavani, the protecting deity of Shivaji,
advised him to do so in a dream. It was Ashadha
Vadya 1 f July 13, 1660 (J), the middle of the rainy
season* (SB mentions S'ravan, perhaps not taking into
account the intercalary Jyeshtha of that year which
makes the period of Shivaji's confinement one of
5 months). The foreign letters of that time do not give,
and we cannot fix, the exact date. On this night,
rendered dark by clouds, Shivaji started on this dare-
devil march, seated in a palanquin and escorted
by 600 trusted Mawalas. The unwavering devotion
of these foot-soldiers which was beyond all praise
and their intimate knowledge of hill-paths were the
two staves on which Shivaji depended. The party*
starting about 9 p. m. t avoided the investing guards
( who were further put up in thatched huts owing to
die rains) by hilly crooked paths; and notwithstand-
ing the rains and the swollen streams illumined now
and then by lightening flashes, as Shiva-Bharata
poetically describes, reached, the next evening,
the foot of the Vishalgad fort whichw A as in Shivaji's
possession* When Johar learnt, from spies, of
Shivaji's escape, some hours after his departure,
he was aghast and intensely vexed. He, however,
sent in pursuit a party of horsemen and soldiers
under Masaudkhan Berber. They saw Shivaji's

THE THERMOPYLjE OF INDIAN HISTORY 117

men ascending the hill in the evening light and the
horsemen pressed on and also the footmen. They
might have caught Shivaji before he ascended the
hill and entered the fort. At this supreme crisis,
Baji Prabhu Deshpande of Hirdas Maval was
placed by Shivaji in a narrow khind or defile
which has to be passed before reaching the fort
and asked him to hold the pursuers till he was
apprised of Shiva j's safe arrival on the fort by the
boom of a cannon. The heroic and devoted Baji
with the help of the equally heroic and devoted
Mawalas under Bandal, opposed the rushing onset
of horsemen and footmen in the defile and held
them till the boom of a cannon was heard- Baji
Prabhu, as he heard the boom, gladly died, being
cut down at that moment in this Thermopylae ol
Indian history, like Leonidas ; and his name
deserves to be immortalized in the history of
Maratha independence.

The news of Shiva ji's safe escape was heard
by the Hindus in Maharashtra with the greatest
glee and by Bijapur with the greatest grief. The
Sultan of Bijapur was wroth with the Siddi and as
usual suspected him of being bribed. Some accounts
state that Shivaji had lulled the Siddi into supine-
ness by proposing, on the evening before his
escape, to hand over the fort to him with per-
mission to retire. But this is not believable as

118 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Johar would not have slackened his vigilance for
a mere proposal. The real reason why Shivaji
successfully went out, in spite of the vigilance of
the investing guards, was that it was a raining
night and the Mawalasby their intimate knowledge
of hilly paths succeeded in avoiding the guards
altogether. Shivaji arrived at the fort of Vishalgad
about five in the evening, as Shiva-Bharata states
that he had gone five yojanas ( 40 miles ) in seven
yamas 1 . Shivaji next day was invested in Vishal-
gad itself by a contingent sent by Siddi Johar
who could not or would not give up the siege
of Panhala. This force, being insufficient, was
attacked by Shivaji in a sally and utterly routed
and Masaudkhan fled back to Panhala 2 . Shivaji
thereupon, taking with him trusted and faithful
contingents, left Vishalgad and went to Rajgad to
meet his anxious mother. The safe arrival of
Shivaji at Rajgad must have intensely gladdened
the heart of that anxious and heroic mother. One
can imagine the immense joy which Jijabai felt as a
mother and a sympathiser in Shivaji's sacred plan
for the deliverance of Maharashtra and for the
relief of oppressed Hinduism. She clasped her
darling heroic son to her bosom and bathed him
with tears of joy, "the milk of love flowing out of
her breasts. " 3

1. SB 27. 13. 2. SB 27, 30-35. 3. SB 27, 40.

THE THERMOPYLjE OF INDIAN HISTORY 1 19

Siddi Johar, accused of being bribed by Shi-
va ji, was dishonoured and dismissed and after a time
he returned to his original charge, namely the dis-
trict of Karnool. Shiva-Bharata relates that he was
subsequently despatched by poisoning, which may
be believed, the Bijapur Durbar being already
blackened by such acts of treachery against three
ministers. The king of Bijapur, after the rainy sea-
son, himself went to Panhala for prosecuting the
siege of the fort. Trimbak Bhaskar, the comman-
dant, by Shivaji's order, however, handed over the
fort to Salabatkhan himself on 22 September, 1660. 1
It seems strange, it may be stated again, that
the combatants in the Pavan Khind defended by
Baji Deshpande had no guns with them. At least
the Mahomedans were expected to have these wea-
pons which could have been procured from Euro-
peans settled on the west coast. Perhaps these wea-
pons could be had for high prices only. The Maho-
medans had manufactured cannon, but why they
could not manufacture guns is inexplicable. They
did not also use cannon much for want of expert
gunners. The Marathas certainly wholly depended
for these fire-arms, cannon and guns, on foreign-
ers and apparently did not manufacture even gun-
powder. The Mawala foot-soldiers usually seem,
therefore, to have only used swords up to this time
1. Bhadrapada Vadya 13 S'. J582 ( J ).

120 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

It is again strange that Shiva-Bharata does not
mention the memorable self-sacrifice, on the altar
of patriotism, of Baji Prabhu. No mention is no
proof, however, of the non-existence of a thing un-
less mention is absolutely necessary; and the Shiva-
Bharata, written mainly to glorify Shiva ji's exploits,
may have unconsciously failed to notice this inci-
dent. But it mentions fights of even Sardars repeat-
edly and with great detail, following the example of
the Mahabharata. This exploit of Baji Prabhu is,
however, unquestionably historical, being mention-
ed in Jedhe S'akavali and other documents such as a
Dutch letter of Vengurla, dated 5th September 1660,
which speaks of Shivaji's keeping men in a defile
and their defending the pass against odds till cut
down by a party coming in their rear by a difficult
route as at Thermopylae. 1 Indeed a Sanad granted
to the family by Shahu refers to this incident and
we have no hesitation in glorifying this hero of the
important Prabhu community of Western India.

Some Minor Controversia 1 Points

1. PS 83 1, a Dutch letter written on September 5th
1660, two months after Shivaji's escape, mentions that
Shivaji, through his vakil Gangadhar, proposed to Siddi
Johsr alias Salabatkhan that he would deliver all his
kingdom to AH Adilshah if the former who was like his
father would plead for him and that Shivaji next day on a

1. PS 31.

THE THERMOPYLAE OF INDIAN HISTORY 121

stormy moonless night left Panhala with 1000 men. Such
rumours which exaggerate matters were, however, natural
after Shivaji's successful escape*

2. It is suggested by some that Vishalgad was al-
ready invested by the chiefs of Pali and Shringarpur in be-
half of Bijapur. But this does not seem correct. Shivaji
who had plenty of sources of correct information would not
have gone to such a place. These two chiefs were probably
with Siddi Johar at Panhala and they were sent to assist
Masaudkhan after Shivaji had gone to Vishalgad. SB
27-28 seems to suggest this idea, but as the previous verse 25
speaks of Shivaji being already on the Vishalgad fort, the
coming of these two Maratha chiefs must be for helping
Masaudkhan and there can be no possibility of or reason
for Johar's sending them to invest Vishalgad on the Ghat-
Matha, of all forts, before Shivaji reached it.

3. We have already noticed the controversy as to
whether Baji Deshpande fought and died in the Pavan
Khind, as SB does not mention it. Some have suggested
that he had come of his own accord to assist Shivaji, as
his being in the latter's service is not mentioned. But as
often stated elsewhere, no mention leads to no inference.
His dying there is mentioned by J and also a contempor-
ary foreign letter. This also disposes of the idea of the
chiefs of Pali and Shringarpur having already invested the
fort, as Baji could not have then defended the defile.

4. The story given in PS 831, namely that Shivaji
formed two parties, one of them takirg his barber who was
named Shivaji and his own and that the first was caught
while the other reached the fort safely, is absurd, to say the
least. It is an imaginary multiplication of Shivaji's devices.

122 SHTVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWABAJ

5. The more difficult question whether Shivaji went
to Vishalgad or Rangana confronts us here. Chitnir
Bakhar mentions Rangana, and Grant Duff naturally
follows it ; but Shiva- Bharata which was found later clear-
ly mentions Vishalgad. The Dutch letter PS 831 also men-
tions Khelna which was the original name of the fort be*
fore Shivaji named it Vishalgad. But Captain Modak of
the Gwalior army who has studied this question on the
spot gives his opinion in favour of Rangana. He says
that Ghod Khind, Gajapur, Badshah Mai, Pandhare Pani
are names to be found on the way to Rangana also. But
Vishalgad is nearer than Rangana and the argument that
Shivaji would not have brought the enemy against the
fort which was his kothi, is not of mucli avail. The
nearest fort was the safeat and the enemy might have
followed him even to Rangana. Shivaji knew that the
investing force at Panhala would not be weakened and
Johar could only send small detachments against him.
Moreover, his ultimate object was not to stay at Vishalgad
but to go to Rajgad. The most cogent reason is that
SB and the Dutch letter, being contemporaneous and much
earlier than Chitnis Bakhar, deserve to be followed.

XVII. MOGULS MOUSE-TRAPPED IN
UMBERKHIND

Having thus discomfited the Bijapur force,
let us now see how Shivaji also discomfited the
greater force of the Moguls. Jedhe S'akavali has
the short note, " Shaistekhan took Chakan and
then encamped in Poona, September 1660."
Shiva-Bharata also notes the event of the taking of
the fort of Chakan, after describing the excesses
committed by the overwhelming force of the Moguls
in its march, as already described 1 . The movements
of this Mogul force are noted in Mahomedan
accounts in detail as follows : Alamgir-Nama
states that Shaistekhan started from Ahmednagar
on February 25 and crossed the Bhima after five
days. He captured small forts near Sonavadi,
Supe, Baramati etc., and came to Shirval on April
18th. He went thence to Khede Bare (a village where
Shivaji often passed the days of his childhood in a
big house specially built there) which was neaf
the village of Kondhana which gave its name to
the fort near by, also called Sinhgad. He could
not, however, take that fort and he came back
to Saswad, May 1st He could not also take the
1. SB 28, 27-29.

124 BHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

important fort of Purandar near Saswad- He,
therefore, went to Poona and thence to Chakan and
invested its fort. After two months of investment,
he took this ground-fort of Chakan on August 14th.
There is a difference here of about a month ( which
is not of much importance ) between J and Mahome-
dan accounts.

Shiva ji had in the meantime come to Rajgad v
and his ministers advised him to try for peace
with the Moguls, as it was difficult to fight with
such a strong force. J has a note that Sonajipant
returned from Shaistekhan with his message in
Kartik (October), which means that Shivaji had
sent him with proposals of peace. The reply not
being satisfactory, the war continued. Shaistekhan,
hereafter, sent a strong detachment under Kartalab-
khan, assisted by some Maratha chiefs, Raibagin
included, through the Ghats to attack Shiva ji's posses-
sions in Konkan, such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, Panvel,
Chaul ( Champavati ) and Nagothna. 1 The army
passed through the Umber Khind Ghat by a road
which was so narrow that the men could descend
one by one only. Shivaji knew of this invasion
but did not attack the invading force at this place
and allowed it to collect in a plain at the foot,
surrounded by such high mountains that "there
was not even a breath of wind in the plain encir-
1. SB 28,59-

MOGULS MOUSE-TRAPPED IN UMBERKHIND 125

cled by a thick jungle " ( SB ). Shivaji had
kept detachments of his force concealed on all
sides of this plain, as at Par near Pratapgad before.
The sound of war-drums, suddenly beat, gave the
Mogul army notice of an attack and the army
was soon enveloped and plied with shot and
arrows. It was mid -day and " the extreme heat
increased by absence of wind added its arrows. fv
The army not even seeing the enemy was thrown
into confusion. At this juncture, the Raibagin
advised Kartalabkhan to save the army by be-
seeching Shivaji for safe retreat. Shivaji probably
did not wish to carry matters too far and enrage
Shaistekhan or Aurangjeb and granted truce. The
soldiers of Shivaji who had begun falling upon the
confused army were countermanded by Shivaji's
mace-bearers and the army eventually returned by
the path it had come by, leaving much property on
the battle-field *. This event happened on Magh
S'uddha 14, S' 1582, corresponding to February 2,
1661 (J). Shivaji asked Netaji Palkar, his com-
mander-in-chief, to follow the army and see that it
did not break the conditions of the truce.

1. SB 29, 53-60.

XVffl. CONQUEST OF SOUTH KONKAN

Having taken this precaution, Shivaji resolved
to make a sudden raid into southern Konkan and
plunder Rajapur and other towns and thus punish
the English for having supplied cannon and shot to
Salabatkhan at the siege of Panhala and also the
chiefs of Pali and Shringarpur for investing Vishal-
gad. These sudden resolves and movements of
Shivaji prove Shiva ji's great genius for war. He was
already in Konkan with a large force and instead of
returning tb Rajgad to watch Shaistekhan, he sud-
denly started on this momentous expedition. He
found towns and villages abandoned by the
enemy and plundered them. He came to Dabhol
and took that place. 1 Next he came to Pali, the
chief of which fled to Shringarpur. He next
came to Chiplun and thence to Sangameshwar
which were immediately abandoned by the Maho-
medans. He was joined here by Tana ji Malusare
and Pilaji Nilkanth. 2 Finally he reached Rajapur
and, defeating the Mahomedan force posted there,
took that place, well-known for its riches obtained
by maritime trade. 3 Shivaji compelled all the trad-
ers, Hindus and Mahomcdans, English and Dutch,
1. SB 29, 67. 2. SB 29, 81. 3. SB 29, 89.

CONQUEST OF SOUTH KONKAN 127

to pay to him heavy tributes. Even treasure buried
underground was dug out. 1 Shiva-Bharata gives
a highly poetical account of the rich plunder obtain-
ed by Shivaji and a long list of the articles of mer-
chandise seized which is important for commercial
history. But what is more important to us here is
that it properly praises the valour of the Europeans
though considered " lower in rank than Mahome-
dans." "The valour of these foreigners is heighten-
ed by their unerring aim with fire-arms. They are
expert in attacking fortifications. They surpass the
god of riches by their wealth. They have all the
arts of delusion of Mayasura. They are daring
navigators of the mid-ocean. " 2

Ali Adilshah was pained to hear of the plun-
dering of Rajapur;but he could do nothing to punish
Shivaji, being engaged in war with Johar in Karna-
tak. He, however, directed the chief of Shringarpur
or Prabhanavalli to attack Shivaji as that chief was
already inimical to Shivaji and was near by, as
also accustomed to hill fighting. He suddenly fell
upon the army of Tanaji Malusare at Sangamesh-
war at night; but he was signally defeated. Shivaji
on his return from Rajapur attacked him with all
his force and took his prosperous town. The coun-
try was full of various artisans whose avocations
given in SB are worth noting 3 . The chief called

1. SB 30, 6. 2. SB 30, 1-2. 3. SB 3l. 17-24.

128 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Suryarao fled and his whole prosperous state was
conquered and annexed. Shiva ji built a fort at Pali
and named it Mandanagad 1 . He built a fort atShrin-
garpur also and called it Pratitagad 2 . Trimbak
Bhaskar was appointed governor and was kept
there with a strong force for the protection of the
newly acquired territory. Shiva ji then returned
to Rajgad; he did not proceed against the Sawant
of Wadi as he proffered submission and again
joined Shivaji (Duff).

J mentions the plundering of Nizampur (Raja-
pur) and the taking of Dabhol and Prabhavali
after the Mogul defeat in Umber Khind in the
same month, Magha ( February ), and the taking
of Shringnarpur and the flight of Suryarao in May
1661- This latter date is confirmed by an English
long letter 3 which states that Shivaji " has lately
enlarged and strengthened his country by over-
coming the two Rajas, the Dalvi and the Chief of
Shringarpur, by which means he now commands
all the coast from Danda Rajapur to Khare-
patarT. A Dutch letter, dated April 20 166 1, 4 men-
tions that Ali Adilshah has concluded peace with
Shivaji and that Siddi Johar has rebelled against
him, proclaiming himself servant of the Moguls.
This conclusion of peace must have been merely a

U SB 31, 26. 2. SB 32, 4.

3. PS 848 dated 10th June, 1661. 4. PS 841

CONQUEST OF SOUTH KONKAN 129

proposal made after the plundering of Rajapur, as
we shall presently show. It is rather strange that
the plundering of Rajapur does not find mention
in English letters until the 10th of June 1661,
when the above long letter from Revington and
others 1 first refers to it as follows : u Shiva ji has
sent us as prisoners to Vasota. He robs and
demands money from all men, Banias, Moors,
Persians and Arabians'* 2 . Probably they could
not write earlier, being imprisoned. They wished
that negotiations should be opened from Surat for
their release and for compensation for plunder,
at least for their release only. This latter clause
shows that the plunder was justifiable. Indeed,
a Surat letter from President Andrews, dated
10th March 1662, clearly admits the justice of
Shiva jis action in plundering the English and
imprisoning Revington 3 . He writes from Surat
to the ' disconsolate prisoners f on Rairi castle :
" How you came to prison you know very well. This
punishment is not for your defending company's
goods. It is for your going to the siege of Panhala
and firing cannon under English banner. Anybody
who is strong enough would have punished you in
these circumstances. Merchants have no busi-
ness to sell ball and powder nor fire on enemies."

1. PS 848, ER26, p. 23. 2. SB 26, 23 f also

3. PS 874. ER36, p. 37.
S.9

130 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

4 Shivaji had even asked Revington not to sell
ammunition to Bijapur.' In this just manner the
authorities at Surat condemned Revington's action,
It also seems from this letter that Revington was
not released up to March 1662. Another letter of
Escaliot, dated 20th January 1664 1 , mentions
Shivaji's digging the English factory and carrying
away buried treasure. It mentions the release of
English prisoners after about eight months.
1. Siddi Johar

1. Siddi Johar was in no way guilty of allowing
Shivaji to escape- And he rebelled against Ali Adil-
shah, because he was unjustly charged and Ali Adilshah
went personally against him. As stated in J, Siddi Johar,
being defeated, fled to Kelosi and there died after two
months. SUw-Bliarata, however, states that he was
besieged in Kurnool and when he could not be taken, he
was secretly poisoned by the mother of the Adilshah ( SB
28,2! ). J does not give the date of his death or defeat.

2. Pali and Shringarpur

Pali according to SB is to the south of Dabhol
( SB 29, 68 ). Pali, a town in the present Bhor State.
is north of Dabhol and it cannot, therefore, be identified
with the above Pali in SB. But Palvan seems to be
the Pali of SB* The name of its chief is given as Jaswant
( SB 29, 76 ) and he is called Dalvi in PS 848, (the English
tetter of Revington to Surat dated 10th June 1 661 already
referred to). Shringarpur is to the north of Sangameshwar

1. ER 79 f 74.

CONQUEST OF SOUTH KONKAN 131

in the present taluka of Ratnagiri. The name of its chief is
given as Suryaraj ( SB 29, 71 ). It is not clear if this is a
surname and is equivalent to Surve. The name Surve is well-
known in the Konkan, but it is not to be found in Desh.
PS 843 speaks of Harji andSuryajias chiefs of Prabhavali
and of their fleeing from Shringarpur to Lakh am Sawant
for protection. The name Prabhanvali is of the district and
is given in SB as Prabhavali, as also in PS 857 and 871.
Pilaji Nilkant was the Subedar of Prabhavali in 1661 and
1662. The date given in J of the defeat of Surve of
Shringarpur, viz.. May 1661 ( Vaishakh S'uddha 11 S'.I583
Monday ) is proved by PS 848, which mentions Dabhol
and Prabhavali as taken possession of in March*

3. Peace with Bijapur

Dutch register, dated April 20, 1661 ( PS 845 ) f states
*' The Sultan of Bijapur went against Panhala with a large
army but eventually concluded peace with rebellious
Shivaji. Salabatkhan has rebelled against him and declared
himself to be a servant of the Moguls. " J states "Panhala
was given to Salabatkhan on 13 Bhadrapada Vadya (Sept.
22 ) and peace was concluded." Putting the two together
it seems that Ali Adilshah, finding the fort of Panhala still
not taken, though Shivaji had escaped, and suspecting
Johar of treachery, himself marched against Panhala ; but
before he reached it, Shivaji concluded terms of surrender
with Johar and handed over the fort to him- The peace
spoken of in the Dutch letter of April 20 does not seem to
be a recent event but seems to be the peace concluded
with Johar in September. There was thus no peace with
Bijapur itself when Shivaji took South Konkan and sacked
Rajapur in the possession of Bijapur in February. But a
peace appears to have been concluded between Shivaji and

132 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Ali Adilshah himself after this event, because the latter
had to proceed* against Johar and punish him for his
treachery and subsequent rebellion. Shivaji, therefore,
appears to have taken rest hereafter and remained quiet
for a time at Vardhangad as J notes " Shivaji went to
Vardhangad in Kartik ( November 1661 ) and remained
there the whole summer ( June 1662 ). J records that in
Bhadrapada ( September 1661 ) Narhar Anandrao was ap-
pointed Peshwaand Annajipant was appointed Wakenavis
while Sarkarkoons ( Divisional officers ) were given Pal-
khis* This shows that Shivaji concerned himself at this
time with the civil administration of his state. In April
1662, J next records, Moropant was app Dinted Peshwa.
This position he enjoyed very long, while there was fre-
quent change before him* Thus while in September 1661,
Narhar Anandrao was Peshwa, PS 871 of January 1662,
an order by Shivaji to Pilaji Nilkantrao Subedar, Prabha-
vali, bears the seal of Shamraj Nilkant who was thus
Peshwa from 1661 December to April 1662. Shivaji found
in Moropant a trusty man both as soldier and admini-
strator.

Shivaji must have concluded peace with
Bijapur because he had to fight with Shaistekhan
who was encamped in his Poona territory. Raja-
pur English letter from Rudolf Taylor to Surat,
dated February 6, 1663, 1 clearly states that Ravji
Pandit, Shivaji's agent, explained that Shivaji
plundered Rajapur because it was then Bijapur
territory and 'his master was at war with the

1. PS 917, ER 53, 47.

CONQUEST OF SOUTH KONKAN 133

king of the Deccan. ' * But now Shiva ji had a far-
man from Bijapur for Rajapur and the places he
had conquered in Konkan and thus Shivaji was
master of Rajapur and the English need have no
fear of being molested. ' This means that Shivaji
had consented to hold his conquests in South Konkan
as a jagirdar under Adilshah. This also justifies the
expression in PS 857, dated August 3, 1661, that 'at
present Tal Konkan had been granted to Saheb.'
This peace and the farm an must be placed be-
tween March and August 1661.

XIX. MIDNIGHT RUSH OF MOGUL CAMP

Shaistekhan, the lord of 70,000 horse and
artillery and several contingent forces, *' the
encampent of which covered the area of two
villages * n was established at Poona on the Mutha
river. He had conquered Chakan and thus had
clear communication with the Mogul territory
beyond the Bhima wherein lay Ahmednagar, his
base- He not only checked Shivaji's operations
in the Deccan, but also watched what was happen-
ing at Bijapur and Govalkonda so that he might
pounce upon them at the opportune moment.
He had sent Kartalabkhan to take possession of
the fort of Parenda which probably was given at
this time again by Bijapur to Aurangjeb for assist-
ing it against Shiva ji. It was taken by him probably
in November 1660 (J). We also find that he
tried to extract tribute from Govalkonda also as per
Dutch letter dated November 20, 1 66 1. 2 Since the
disaster in Umberkhind in February 1661 till
April 1663 for about two years, he appears to have
done nothing worth noting against Shivaji. But
he must be supposed to have retaken, by sending
detachments under his lieutenants in May 1661,
1. S&SB. 2. PS 863.

MIDNIGHT RUSH OF MOGUL CAMP 135

Kalyan and the adjoining district as we find from
contemporary English letters, probably while
Shivaji was absent in South Konkan. An attempt
was made by Bulakhi in 1661 ( probably June ) to
take Dehrigad near Pen by besieging it, but the siege
was broken through by Kavaji Kondhalkar (J).
Pen itself had probably been taken by the Moguls
and, as J mentions, Shivaji himself went against
Jamdarkan ( Mogul captain ) suddenly and plun-
dered Pen. In this hard-fought battle, WaghojiTupe
and other captains of Shivaji were wounded (])
In the Poona district itself, detachments were
often sent to harass the Deshmukhs who were, there-
fore, advised by Shivaji to send their families and
even the people under them to safe places in the
Konkan after the rainy season. 1 Shivaji himself re-
mained outside the Poona territory apparently not
even residing long in its forts, Rajgad or Sinhgad.
Shaistekhan tried to take Sinhgad by treachery ; but
the attempt was discovered in time and Shivaji sent
Moropant Peshwa to the fort with a sufficient force 2 .
Mogul cavalry detachments were posted by the
Moguls at Chaul in Konkan and at Rahimatpur in
Desh as mentioned in the English letter from
Gyf ford to Surat dated 30th March. 3 Mogul cavalry
also pursued Netaji Palmar, who had gone on a

1. PS 905 of 23 October 1662.

2. PS 925 April 3, 1663. 3. PS 923, ER 56, p. 52.

1 36 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAR ATHA SWARAJ

plundering expedition into Berar, as far as Bijapur.
But these were unimportant affairs and it seems
that Shaistekhan himself remained in Poona in-
active, enjoying the cool and equable climate
of Poona so different from that of Delhi and even
Ahmednagar.

One night, however, in April 1663, he was
suddenly roused from his inactivity in his own camp
and in his own bed by Shiva ji. The details of
this midnight rush of the Mogul camp, given
differently by different writers, appear like those
of a thrilling chapter in a romance. We lose from
here the guidance of the well-informed contempo-
rary Shiva-Bharata, in relating the story of Shivaji's
life and have to rely on foreign reports which
though exaggerated are at least contemporary.

It is possible that this midnight attack might
have suggested itself to the intrepid Shiva ji from the
Mahabharata account of the midnight rush of the
camp of the Pandavas by Ashvatthama and the
merciless massacre perpetrated by him of the
victorious allies. The points of similarity are these.
Shaistekhan was established in Shivaji's house,
Lai Mahal, every inch of which was known to
Shiva ji. The Pandavas similarly, in the arrogance
of victory, were established in Duryodhana's S'ibir
or camp palace, every inch of which was known
- to Ashvatthama. The Mogul army was encamped

MIDNIGHT RUSH OF MOGUL CAMP 137

in and around the town of Poona, every outlet or
inlet of which was known to Shivaji. So was
Ashvatthama thoroughly familiar with the whole of
the encampment of the Kauravas spread over many
square miles. Thirdly, owing to their secure stay for
about two years, the Mogul army and guard-posts
were not alert, never expecting any hostile attack
at night. So also the victorious Pandavas and their
partisans felt themselves completely secure, having
destroyed the whole of the Kaurava army and they
too did not expect any midnight attack. Lastly,
that was the only way left to Ashvatthama to
wreak his vengeance on the Pandavas, especially
on the Panchala Dhrishtadyumna who had mur-
dered his father. Similarly Shivaji could not hope
to fight with such a vast force openly and a
midnight surprise was the only way by which he
could frighten it or make an impression on it.

How exactly the rush was carried out cannot,
we think, be now determined as the accounts vary
and each of them seems faulty or exaggerated.
The substance of all, however, is the same.
Shivaji with some men entered the Mogul encamp-
ment probably in the evening as ordinary men
who could not have been ^7 fallenged. It was
Chaitra S'uddha 8 Sunday, ($and other Shaka-
valis ). About midnight, when it was dark, the
moon having gone down, Shivaji and his men ap-

138 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

preached Lai Mahal and cutting down the guards
entered the sleeping apartments. The women in
Shaistekhan's seraglio raised an alarm and
Shaistekhan tried to escape through a window when
a sword stroke on his hand cut off three fingers.
Shaistekhan's son attacked Shivaji and his men but
he was killed. Shivaji got out safely and mounting
a horse which was kept ready, rode away in the
tumult caused by the surprise attack and joining
his men kept outside of Poona at a distance of
about 2 miles, reached Sinhgad safely-

This successful raid into the Mogul camp was
unquestionably the most daring feat in Shivaji's life
and is unsurpassed in the history of the world for
intrepidity, careful planning and successful execu-
tion. It created so much consternation in the enemy*
that Shaistekhan with his army soon retired
from Poona to the Mogul territory (Ahmednagar), as
we shall presently see, while at the same time it
spread the fame of Shivaji among his countrymen.
Indeed as he had himself planned the raid and
executed it successfully putting his own life in
danger, it increased his hold upon his captains and
his people* Jasvantp^ngh who was encamped near
the Mogul army "V s accused, as usual, of com-
plicity in that he dilS ndl pursue Shivaji. He could,.
* Sttahge notions arosf about Shivaji * prowess, such
as the idea that he could jump forty feet.

MIDNIGHT RUSH OF MOGUL CAMP 139

of course, do nothing when all of a sudden Shaiste-
khan's camp was attacked at night. But even
pursuing Shivaji in a dark night and in a country
which Shivaji well knew and the pursuers did not,
was an impossibility, especially as Jasvantsingh did
not know in which direction Shivaji had retired,
and there was the danger of being ambushed as
Afzalkhan's army had been at Par.

Different versions of the surprise attack

1. PS 930, a Rajapur English letter dated 12th April
1663, gives the earliest and clearest contemporary account
of this evant. "Raoji Pandit says he has got a letter writ-
ten by the Raja himself which states that Shivaji with four
hundred picked men entered Shaistekhan's camp, that he
went into his tent tosalam him and presently slew the watch,
his eldest son, his son-in-law, 12 of his chief women, 40
great persons, and their general and wounded Shaistekhan
with his own hand and left him for dead. Shivaji on his side
had six men killed and 40 wounded. Jasvantsingh, captain
of 10,000 horse, did not pursue Shivaji ; so it is generally
believed it was done with his consent. But Shivaji tells his
people that his Permeshwar bid him do it. "' Subsequent
letters like PS 938 dated 25th May from Surat 8 , tell this
story with further exaggerations.
cannot be entirely true, from
not have got admission for sal}
men and at such an awkward]
happened in daytime or ever
not have escaped. The letter j
which Shivaji got entrance "

1. ER 60 p. 54.

140 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

The statement of Raoji Pandit that he had a letter from the
Raja himself may be true, but the contents of it may have
been misunderstood by the factors. This letter, however,
confirms the date of this event ( given in J ) namely about
a week before 13th April 1663, as will be just noted*

2. The next account we have is that of the Jedhe
S'akavali. It gives the date as Chaitra S'uddha 8 Sunday
S'. 1585 or 5th April 1663, and notes that " the hand of
Shaistekhan was cut off and his son Abdul Fatteh was
killed/' Shivaji as soon as he got out of the Lai Mahal Dindi
{door), mounted a horse and rode towards Karyat Mahal
with some horsemen, joined by batches of others kept from
place to place. There is nothing unbelievable in this story ;
but it says nothing as to how Shivaji got into the camp of
Shaistekhan as also into his palace* It, however, mentions
Lai Mahal, it must be noted, and not a tent.

3* A still later account is that of Sabhasad-" The king
came down from Rajgad alone and took choice men with
him ; Babaji and Chimnaji, Kulkarnis of Khed (Bare), two
brave and discreet men, walked in front. Two armies, the
cavalry under Netaji and the Infantry under Moropant,
were placed on the two sides of the Mogul camp at a
distance of one mile* The king armed with a sword and
buckler and followed by one thousand men entered the
camp* They were challenged at several guardposts ; but
Babaji and Chimnaji who preceded, replied, ' We are men
of the camp returning from our posts, being relieved.'
They reached Nawab'stent at mid-night. Keeping parties
of his men on the four sides, Shivaji tore the tent cloth
with his dagger* There were tents within tents and men on
guard. They were struck down as they were lying asleep.
The women being awakened caused alarm and the Nawab

MIDNIGHT BUSH OF MOGUL CAMP 141

as he was taking up his sword was attacked by Shiva ji and
his fingers were cut off. The row was now great and the
men in the camp got ready and called aloud* * Where is the
enemy ?' Shivaji's men getting mixed in the crowd also
cried/ Where is the enemy? 9 and thus safely got out. Shivaji
joining his forces returned. The Nawab suspected his
sardars of treachery and defection and left for Delhi
after three days." It is, however, strange that
one thousand men could pass challenge on the plea
that they were guards returning from their posts and
such guards could not have gone so near the Nawab's
tent. Babaji and Chimnaji might have spoken in Urdu
but the others must have been detected by their language
as also by their dress. General Wolfe, when he conquered
Quebec, used a similar artifice with success; but his English
soldiers could easily have passed as French and could
have spoken French well. Marathas could not be expected
either by their appearance or language to pass as Maho-
medan guards. Round about the Nawab's tent further,
surely there must have been Mogul and Pathan guards
and no Maratha guards. It goes without saying that
Shivaji through his spies had information about every-
thing in Shaistekhan's camp including the posting of
guards and the sleeping place of the Khan*

4. The last and the strangest account is that given by
Grant Duff from later Bakhars. " Shivaji left Sinhgad
one evening in April and keeping small parties of Infantry
along the road as he passed, reached Poona. Yesaji
Kank and Tanaji Malusare with only 25 Mawalas entered
the town with Shivaji. A Maratha foot-soldier of the
camp who had been gained over, celebrated a marriage
and obtained permission for a procession with torn torn

142 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWAEAJ

and armed men dancing as usual. Shivaji and his party
joined the crowd, Poona being an open town. When all
was quiet, Shivaji who was acquainted with every avenue
went with a few pickaxes and broke into the cook-room.
The women there raised an alarm. Shaistekhan was in
the act of lowering himself from a window when he
received a blow on his hand. Shivaji safely got out and
having gone four miles lighted many torches to show the
enemy that they were many in number* " The foremost
objection to this is that there could be no marriage cele-
bration in Chaitra in which month this surprise raid
undoubtedly took place* This cuts off the whole ground
from the story and Sinhgad is about 9t miles from Poona
and even a thousand torches ascending the fort cannot be
seen from Poona, as the account absurdly relates at the end.
The artifice of sending some torch-men one way while the
men sought for, escaped by another and opposite way has
been used and is found in history. But this account of the
torches is not such an artifice*

It is suggested by some that the difficulty about a tent
or a palace may be solved by holding that Shaistekhan
lived in a tent pitched in the open ground inside Lai Mahal*
But his tent was so big that " it required 66 elephants
to carry it* " In the old town of Poona and in Lai Mahal,
there could hardly be room in any open space for even a
moderately sized tent.

XX. CONQUEST OF KUDAL

Kudal territory is to the south of Rajapur and
forms the present state of the Sawants of Wadi.
The language of the people is Mar at hi and it forms
part of Maharashtra like North and South Konkan,
which form the present Thana 1 and Ratnagiri
districts. Further south is the territory of Goa which
is also in Maharashtra by language and further
south is Karwar the people of which speak
Marathi mixed with Kanarese. Kudal was un-
questionably a part of the territory wherein
Shivaji wished to establish Swaraj. He had al-
ready conquered the present Thana and Ratnagiri
districts ; and he now turned his attention to Kudal,
the Desai of which, Lakham Sawant, had proved
false to him more than once. He was a jagirdar
under Bijapur, but he early acknowledged Shiva ji's
leadership and joined his plan for founding
Swaraj, as stated already. He, however, assisted
Bijapur whenever Shivaji was weak and he had
recently helped the chief of Shringarpur against
Shivaji. He had also obtained from the Dutch,
powder and ammunition for fighting with Shivaji
and the Dutch also thus deserved to be punished.

l'i Thana includes Kolaba District.

144 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

The main Mogul army in the Deccan had retired
to Ahmednagar beyond the Bhima, as Shaistekhan
was suspicious of his captains. Shivaji thus found
himself free to make a sudden dash against Kudal
and Vengurla, in the same way as he had suddenly
raided Rajapur after his escape from Panhala.

It may be noted here that the three European
powers which were settled in the several ports on
the western coast were already taking active part
in the politics of the country, assisting one party
against another and even planning to acquire domi-
nion. The opportunity was favourable. The
powerful Hindu state of Vijayanagar being de-
stroyed, the western coast from Dabhol southwards
came easily under Bijapur. In South India, wrong-
ly called Karnatak, however, Bijapur had not yet
established its authority and the petty chiefs who
ruled patches of territory there, were too weak to
oppose the disciplined forces and the fire-arms of the
west. The Portuguese had already established their
dominion in the territory of Goa in the teeth of the
opposition of Bijapur, as also at Bassein and Chaul
and were building forts there. The Dutch were
established at Vengurla and had just conquered
Quilon and Cannanore and fortified the latter
place (English letter dated 17th April 1663*). The
English were established at Rajapur as traders
1. PS 933; ER 61, p. 54, strangely omits this.

CONQUEST OF KUDAL 145

and they had just acquired Bombay from the
Portuguese, hoping to lay the foundation of their
future empire, as indeed their king, in his order
( dated March 1662 ) to Sir Abraham Shipman to
take possession of the island, prophetically said,
"This would extend both the commerce of our sub-
jects and our dominions in these parts 1 .** The French,
however, had no settlements on the west coast
though they had some on the east. It is true that these
western powers were constantly fighting with one
another; but they were all shrewd enough to take
advantage of the weakness of the country and as
one means of acquiring dominion, they assisted one
side against another in the country's internecine
disputes, especially by the supply of cannon and
ammunition. Shivaji also took advantage of the
jealousies among these western powers, and be-
fore attacking the Dutch at Vengurla for assisting
the Sawant, he concluded an alliance with the
Portuguese 2 . The governor of Bassein had previ-
ously also been instructed from Goa to keep on
friendly terms with Shivaji and not to assist the
Moguls with supplies of provision and provender
( Pisurlekar ). The English, however, were at this
time against Shivaji for keeping some of their men
still confined and had even ordered reprisals
against him on the sea.
1. PS 88, ER 39, P. 38. 2. PS 932 of April 1663.

S. 10

146 BHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Ali Adilshah with his foster mother, the Badi
Sahebin, having also left for the south in March to
punish Bahilolkhan and his mother, Shivaji pro-
perly decided to make a sudden raid on Kudal. A
Dutch letter from Vengurla, of November 4th 1663, 1
six months after the event, describes this raid as
follows: " Shivaji with four thousand horse and ten
thousand foot came to Kudal Prant on 23rd May,
1 663 (this date may be a little earlier, as Gyfford
writes on 24th May from Kolhapur that Raoji had
gone to Kudal and Vengurla -with Shivaji) 2 . The
people of Vengurla fled. 9 ' "Sawant has burnt some
villages of the Portuguese. " (Dutch letter dated I Ith
June I663.) 3 Some plunder was obtained by Shivaji
and some Dutch houses were destroyed as the Dutch
had removed their property on board steamers.
41 Shivaji sent a letter that the Kudal Prant had been
given him by the Padshah. 9 ' " Some na jarana was
sent to Shivaji by the Dutch which he accepted.
Having made arrangements for the good order of
the district, Shivaji has returned. 99 " The Portuguese
were joyful at the news of Shiva ji's attacking Ven-
gurla ** " Lakham Sawant with six hundred men has
left Wadi and is staying at the foot of Balaghat"*

Shivaji appointed Raoji Pandit as Subedar of
Kudal as is noted in a Goa letter 5 dated 23rd July,

1. PS 959. 2. PS 937, ER 63, p. 55.

3. PS 940. 4. PS 959. 5. PS 948-

CONQUEST OF KUDAL 147

1663. Apparently he did not pursue and punish
the Sawant, because he was a Bhosale himself and
was likely to return to allegiance. Shiva ji must
really have obtained a farman from Bijapur for
taking possession of and keeping this territory, as
he had obtained one for Raj a pur. The Bijapur
king, being engaged in war with the refractory
Bahilolkhan of Bankapur, must have thought it con-
venient to keep Shivaji satisfied as he was at peace
with him at this time. Shivaji probably returned
to Rajgad soon, not because the Moguls had come
after him, as was supposed by some, but because the
rainy season was approaching and the rains are
always early and heavy in South Konkan.

Jasvantsingh was no doubt preparing to attack
Sinhgad and did attack it after the rains ; but he
was defeated and he returned. Both Jasvantsingh
and Shaistekhan were recalled by Aurangjeb in his
rage at their incompetency and Jasvantsingh must
have raised the seige for this reason also. He left
Kondhana on Jyeshtha S'uddha 14 S'. 1584 or
28th May, 1664 (J). 1

1. Monday is wrong here, but if it is correct we must
take Ashad S'uddha 14 which fell on Monday and which
corresponds to June 27.

XXI. SHIVAJI NOW A DE FACTO
INDEPENDENT KING

It would be convenient to take here a survey
of what Shiva ji had achieved by this time. He
began as a petty jagirdar under Bijapur, enjoying
the fief of Poona, Supa and Indapur, acquired by
his father Shahaji, originally under Nizamshahi, and
then under Adilshahi in 1636, when he finally enter-
ed its service. Shivaji was installed as jagirdar
in this lief in 1642 when he was in his 12th year
and for some years he remained in tutelage under
Dadaji Konddev, Shahaji's agent- He began his
career in his 15th year ( Amatya's Nitis'astra )
in 1644 by forming a resolve to establish Hmdwi
Swarai and collecting sympathisers in the cause of
the founding of this Hindu kingdom in Maharashtra.
He began actual work by taking in 1648 the forts
of Sinhgad and Purandar which were usually
kept by the suzerain power under its own officers.
We have not yet found any contemporary docu-
ment in support of the story that Shivaji began his
career by taking Torana fort. Perhaps the word
Torana suggested this idea. He next conquered
Javali and added that jagir to his own in 1656.
He next took North Konkan in 1658 and then South
Konkan as far as Rajapur in Nov. 1661. He lastly

SHIVAJI NOW A DE FACTO INDEPENDENT KING 149

took the Kudal territory (Nov. 1663). He had to give
up Sinhgad for a time for securing the release of
his father Shahaji in 1649; but he retook the fort
some time after. His small kingdom thus at this
time (1664) comprised all the Konkan from Bassein
to Vengurla 1 and the corresponding Ghat-Matha,
with all the important forts in both of them. Wai
and Satara were, however, not in his possession 2
as also Kolhapur, though probably Bhor was.

It may be noted here that while Shivaji held
the Rajapur and Kudal territories as mokasa under

1. A Dutch letter, dated 17th November 1663 (PS 963),
says that Shivaji has sent some soldiers to Vengurla for
its protection. Karwar English letter, dated 5th November
(PS 961). shows that Rajapur was in Shivaji's possession.
The Dutch long letter already noted ( PS 959 ) speaks of
Shiraji's control over Vengurla since it was reported that
the Portuguese offered 15,000 hons to Shivaji for driving
out the Dutch from Vengurla, but Shivaji did not accede to
this request. On 20th July 1663 ( PS 946, ER 67, p. 57 ),
Gyfford writes to Surat that he had heard that "Adil-
shah had ordered the Subedar of Phonda and the Sawant
of Wadi to drive away Shivaji from Rajapur and
Kharepatan which he had given to Mahomedkhan. " A
Dutch letter from Goa, dated 19th March 1660, says that
all the territory from Chaul to Banda is in Shivaji's posses-
sion (PS 810). Thus these letters show that Shivaji acquired
the whole Konkan from Kalyan to Kudal from 1660 to the
beginning of 1664 and had it in his possession at this time.

2. PS 953, September 1664.

150 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARA/THA SWARAJ

Bijapur, with respect to the other territories he was
practically independent He did not hold them
under Bijapur as mokasa, as seems clear from
hiso rder dated 18th December 1660 1 , which
directs cash payments to the Inamdars, Hindu and
Mahomedan, who held inams in Poona, Indapur,
Chakan, Supa and Baramati " when formerly these
were held in mokasa by us before Afzalkhan. "
The word peshji ( formerly ) is here important and
shows that these places were now held by Shivaji
independently, though before Afzalkhan they were
held in mokasa under Bijapur. What the status
was of North Konkan is not quite clear; but that part
also was not in mokasa; for it had been ceded to the
Moguls and had been conquered by Shivaji. The
territory was more than once taken by the Moguls
and was retaken by Shivaji. We must, therefore,
look upon this territory also as independently held.
Thus Shivaji's small kingdom consisted, at this time,
of Poona, Indapur, Supa etc., to the north of the
Nira ; and of Bhor, Javali etc., to its south, with the
corresponding Konkan territory with the exception
of Janjira or Danda Rajapuri.

That Shivaji was looked upon at this time as
an independent king is also clear from the letters of
foreigners. Thus the Viceroy of Goa in a letter to
Shivaji dated 26th April 1 663 styles him as Maratha

1. PS 837.

SHIVAJI NOW A DE FACTO INDEPENDENT KING 151

monarch ( Pisurlekar ). That his movement was
a Hindu movement started for the deliverance of
the Hindus from the yoke of a Mahomedan power
is also apparent from the fact that English letters
of this time style Shivaji as Hindu captain. Thus
Revington's letter 1 written from Rajapur dated 1 3th
February 1660 and addressed to Shivaji calls him
General of Hindu forces. The English no doubt in
their letters to one another describe Shivaji as a
rebel against Bijapur. But successful rebellion is
Jc facto independence, though not as yet recognised
by the suzerain power. Shivaji acquired this
position clearly enough when he destroyed Afzal-
khan and his army, sent to suppress his rebellion*

This status is also supported and proved by
the possession of strong forts and also a strong and
numerous army. As described poetically by Shiva-
Bharata and as stated in the Niti of Amatya, the
strength of a king lies in forts and in an army, for
without an army f even forts are of no avail (SB ).
The importance of forts was realised even in the
West till the last European war, though owing
to the development of aeroplanes, it is now
gone. For this reason, Shivaji maintained in good
condition and even strengthened old forts such as
Sinhgad, Purandar etc*, and built new ones in Ghat-
Matha such as Rajgad and Pratapgad and on the
1. PS 801, ER 4, p. 2.

152 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

sea-coast such as Vijayadurga and Suvarnadurga.
(Hill forts were called 'gads/ ground forts 'kots'
and forts in islands in the sea, ' durgs ' or janjiras
which is an Arabic word for island). The chief fort
which Shiva ji upto this time treated as his capital
was Rajgad newly built by him on the Konkan side
of the Sahyadhri range ( now in Bhor state ). The
extensive fort of Rayari, subsequently called Rai-
gad, was taken by Shivaji from the Mores in 1659,
as already stated, and rebuilt* It was treated as
capital by Shivaji after some years.

It would be interesting to give here the details
of the administration and the military arrange-
ments for the guarding of forts noted by Sabhasad.
There were three heads on each fort : Havaldar,
Sabnis and Sarnobat. A store officer called Kar
khannis kept note of all stores. The rampart was
divided for watching purposes into portions which
were under sub-Sarnobats- The soldiers were put
into parties of ten, nine men with one Naik. They
were classed into four sorts according as they
carried guns, swords, bows or other weapons.
Each soldier was enlisted after personal inspection
by Shivaji himself. The Havaldar was keeper of the
fort and the Sarnobat was commander of soldiers ;
and these officers were to be Marathas of good
family. The Sabnis was keeper of records and
was to be a Brahmin and the Karkhannis was to be

SH1VAJI NOW A DE FACTO INDEPENDENT KING 153

a Prabhu. This recognition of caste capacities and
this enrolment and adjustment of the higher castes
in Maharashtra is remarkable and was a new
system, as Sabhasad remarks. It shows the genius
of Shivaji for civil and military administration.

The army consisted of cavalry and infantry.
The cavalry was divided into two sections, the Paga
and the S'iledars. The Paga was cavalry main-
tained by the state itself and Shiledars were horse-
men who joined in times of war and who maintain-
ed their own horses. Paga or state cavalry was
made up of squadrons of 25 horsemen under a
Havaldar and 5 such squadrons formed a company
under a Jumledar whose pay was 500 hons yearly
and a Palkhi was given him- 10 Jumlas formed a
cavalry force of 1 ,000 under a Hazaria who got
1,000 hons. This force was provided with a
Mujumdar or accountant who was a Brahmin,
a Jamnis who was a Prabhu and a Karbhari or
minister who was a Maratha. The Sarnobat or
Commander-in-chief had 5 such units under him
and his pay was 5,000 hons and he also had under
him a number of spies and messengers. The
S'iledari force was similarly constituted but it was
under the control of the state Sarnobat In dry
season, that is from October to June, the cavalry
was usually employed on foreign expeditions. It
came back, for quarters in the rainy season, to

154 SHTVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

certain fixed places where there were huts already
erected for shelter of both man and horse and
where grass and provisions had duly been collect-
ed. When on service, the cavalry was to subsist
on forced contributions and whatever plunder was
obtained was to be accounted for on return, por-
tions of the same being allotted as of right to the
men; but the rest was to be credited to the state. All
valuable things such as jewels, costly cloth etc.,
were to be placed before Shivaji himself by the
commander and then credited to the state.

The infantry of Mawalas and others con-
sisted of units of ten men under a Nayak, 5 units
being under a Havaldar and 10 under a Jurnledar.
10 Jumlas formed a company of 1,000 under a
Hazaria. A Jumledar got 40 hons yearly and a
Hajaria got 500. The infantry Sarnobat or Com-
mander-in-chief had under him 7,000 men f (the
first Sarnobat of infantry being Yesaji Kank). The
pay was paid in cash either from the Huzur treas-
ury or from the treasury of Subas or districts and
by varats or orders. Pay was paid punctually.
Shivaji never gave any revenue power or mokasas
to military officers, in order to protect the sub-
jects from oppression and to prevent the military
officers becoming too powerful. The revenue
administration was left entirely in the hands of
Karkuns or civil officers*

SHIVAJI NOW A DE FACTO INDEPENDENT KING 155

The state was divided into mahals for re-
venue administration and there was a Mujumdar
( accountant ) (or each mahal and the head officer
was called Havaldar, a word not now used*
Several mahals formed a district or Suba which
was placed under a Subedar. These words were
taken from the existing system, but the Suba stood
for the province in the Mogul empire. Shivaji's pro-
vinces were naturally districts. This word is still
in use in some Maratha states like Gwalior. The
revenue of a district was about 1 lakh of hons ( or
3 lakhs of rupees ) and the pay of a Subedar was
400 hons. The Subedar could keep a Palki in his
own pay. Mahomedan higher officers used chhatri
( umbrella); but this was now reserved for the king
( Shivaji ) himself and officers could only use
abdagirs.

Land of all villages was measured by bighas
and the revenue demand was fixed and taken in
kind from the actual produce. Sabhasad's differ*
ent copies give different proportions for the share
of the state, such as one-fifth, two-sevenths or two-
fifths. One important innovation introduced by
Shivaji was that the village hereditary officers,
Kulkarnis and Patels, were not under Deshmukhs.
The latter were paid cash for their rights and the
revenue was paid by the village officers direct into
the Diwan (Government Civil Office ). The Desh-

156 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

mukhs were thus kept under control and could not
become powerful by collecting the whole revenue
and paying a fixed sum like a farmer to the state.

Sabhasad notices at the end how all religious
places and persons, temples and masjids, monks
and fakirs, were provided for. New yearly grants
in cash were made to learned Vaidika Brahmins
and even saintly men living in jungles or villages,
in order that they might bless the new Hindu
kingdom.

The whole state had a Peshwa (foremost) or
prime minister, subsequently called Mukhya Pra-
dhan, and a Mujumdar ( Accounant ) subsequently
called Amatya. These were officers with every
jagirdar and were the most important officers now
of the state. They were placed higher than the
Sarnobats ( subsequently called Senapatis ). But
even these civil officers had often to do military
<duty and to lead armies. They had seals of their
own. The Jedhe S'akavali hence mentions the per-
sons appointed from time to time as Peshwa and
Mujumdar.* They did not get any territories or
mokasas as pay, but were paid in cash like all
other officers.

* Chitnis and Surnis were officers probably not yet
appointed, as they are not noticed in papers yet.

XXII. THE SACK OF SURAT

Shiva ji now entered upon a new phase of, and
a more daring enterprise in, his life than hitherto,
namely, an open and offensive conflict with the
most powerful empire in the world of that time.
The Mogul had harassed and harried his home,
the town and district of Poona for two years ; and
Shivaji now exacted a fitting retribution for it.
He performed the fourth extraordinary exploit of
his life and plundered the richest city under the
Moguls to the north of his kingdom. While Jasvant-
singh was still prosecuting the siege of Sinhgad,
Shivaji with his usual suddenness of resolution and
celerity of execution, led an expedition against
Surat and sacked that city without hindrance for
four days* And he safely returned with all his
plunder as suddenly as he had gone and by a
route as unthought of as the one he had taken*
He thus not only recompensed himself for what he
had suffered by the Mogul incursion into his
country, but acquired sufficient means to equip a
strong army beyond the means of his small state.

The accounts of this sack of Surat recorded by
the Dutch and English factors there, who were eye-
witnesses to it, are full and may be summarised

156 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWAKAJ

from their letters as follows. We hare no con-
temporary Marathi records about the event except
the short note in J that Shiva ji plundered Surat on
Paush Vadya 4 S'. 1585 (6th January 1664), Jasvant-
singh's investment of Kondhana commencing in the
preceding month viz., Margashirsha (J). Shiva ji who
was then in North Konkan, passing by Bassein with-
out molestation by the Portuguese, suddenly arriv-
ed at Gandevi, a few miles from Surat, on January
5th, 1664. Consternation seized the people and the
Mogul Subedar, perhaps not having sufficient
forces, retired within the fort where many rich mer-
chants also took refuge. The Dutch and the English
remained in their walled factories defended with
cannon, but did not assist the people or the Subedar
( though the English did a little ), as that would
have involved them in the affair. Indeed, Shivaji
expressly said to Antony Smith, taken prisoner, that
he wished to revenge himself on Aurangjeb " for
invading his state and killing his people," but that
he had no cause to molest the Dutch or the English.
( Escaliot's long letter dated 20th January 1664).'
The principles of international law are 'the same
all over the world, being based on natural justice.
Shivaji well stated his position and the Dutch also
understood properly enough that they would incur
Shivaji's enmity if they assisted the Moguls. The
1. PS 977. ER 79, p. 76.

THE SACK OF SURAT 159

city was, therefore, at the mercy of the invader and
Shivaji's soldiers plundered its rich palaces and
peoples without hindrance. Fires were also started
every day by bands of soldiers of Shiva ji who en*
tercel the city. Shivaji himself remained outside the
city and had laid before him piles of silver, gold,
jewels, etc. He did not care for other articles,
which being heavy in weight and insignificant in
value were given away. Torture by the chopping
off of hands and even the cutting off of heads are
described as resorted to by the order of Shivaji for
securing treasure or extracting ransom.

A Dutch letter 1 , dated January 10, gives daily account
of this event and shows that Shivaji plundered the city
from 6th, Wednesday, to 9th, Saturday, and left on the
10th v Sunday. It also states that the Dutch did notsendany
men to assist the Subedar though called upon to do so.
pleading that they had to defend themselves and had not
spare men* They also declined to protect the property in
a house near their factory though requested to do so.
This letter speaks of the English sending some men to
assist the Subedar* Another Dutch letter of the same
date* states that the Dutch refused to take a box sent by
the chitnis of the local court. None of Shivaji's soldiers
had any shelter in their camp and even Shivaji was under
a cloth fastened to a tree. Sudden expeditions cannot be
made with heavy tents and other paraphernalia. A Portu-
guese letter* gives Shivaji'* army as 8 to 10 thousand
men and suggests that Shivaji removed the plunder in

1. PS 968. 2. PS 969. 3. PS 972.

160 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWARAJ

ships previously kept ready at a distance ( this does not
seem probable ), An English letter, dated 25th January 1 ,
states that Shivaji sacked the city for four days from
Wednesday to Saturday* He demanded a tribute from
the English but they refused it and defended their factory.
Antony Smith fell into Shiva ji's hands but he was
released. He saw 26 men's hands cut off and even some
heads. ( The English were not quite friendly to Shivaji
and having assisted the Subedar, tribute was demanded
from them ) Antony Smith was let off on the small
ransom, however, of 300 rupees, without any personal
injury, as stated in Surat letter dated 16th February 8 .
A Surat English letter, dated 28th January 3 , states
that Shivaji first proposed that a ransom for the whole
city should be settled by three rich men named but received
no reply from the Subedar. The loot obtained was esti-
mated at about ten millions of rupees ( English letter
ER 76, p. 64 ). It consisted of gold mohurs, pearls,
jewels etc., and it was taken away in bags by 3,000 coolies.

It also appears 4 from Escaliot's letter that a
man sent by the Subedar for parley suddenly
attacked Shivaji but he was cut down- Shivaji
fell covered with that man's blood but escaped
unhurt. Shivaji probably returned with the
plunder to Rajgad, though some documents state
that he sent his plunder to Raigad which had
been recently strengthened. Shivaji's immediate
return to Rajgad, however, seems doubtful as will
appear from the succeeding chapter.

1. PS 974, ER 76. p. 64. 2. PS 979, ER 83, p. 84.
3. PS 975, ER 78, p. 66. 4. PS 977, ER 79, p, 79.

THE SACK OF 8URAT 161

The acts of cruelty which Shivaji committed
at Surat in securing ransom or discovering treasure,
as described above, ought not to prejudice us.
Such cruelties are the inevitable accompaniments
of war. The question is whether the cruelty was
needless and excessive. Shivaji did not at any
time resort it will be seen, to unnecessary cruelty if
we compare his action with that of others in history*
The plunders and massacres recorded in history,
both Indian and Western, not only of those centuries
but of even the 19th, are almost revolting. We
have thus the cruel massacre and plunder at
Jhansi, after it was taken, by General Havelock in
1858 before us and it must be set down as wholly
unnecessary and inflicted solely for striking terror*
We have again the massacre of one lakh of in-
offensive Hindus perpetrated by the Ahmednagar
Sultan after the battle of Talikot. In European
history we have many accounts of cruelty resorted
to by various peoples unnecessarily after sieges.
The Spaniards and the Germans thus under
Charles V in 1527 plundered Milan and Rome
and inflicted nameless miseries on the Italians.
The Spaniards in Milan inflicted such cruelties
that " prisoners died or committed suicide, under
blows or tortures." The account of the sack of Rome
by the Germans is still more terrible. "It is impossi-
ble to estimate the extent of this spoil, because of
s. n

1 62 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF M ARATHA SWARAJ

the accumulation of riches in the city and the num-
ber of persons for whom heavy ransoms were paid.
Thus the palaces of Cardinals were all sacked
except those for which heavy sums of money were
paid. Many who had compounded with the
Spaniards were pillaged by the Germans or had
to compound with them also. The Cardinal of
Sienna was taken prisoner by the Germans who
sacked his palace, though he had compounded with
the Spaniards and they led him bare-headed with
many blows through Borgia. The prelates of
Minerva and Pongette were similarly treated, being
led through Rome in a vile procession, though they
had paid their ransoms." ( Historian's History of
the World, Voh IX, Italy, Page 453. )

But the full horridness of the event is laid bare
when we further read, " On every side arose the
cries and lamentations of Roman ladies and nuns
dragged off by bands of soldiers to satisfy their
lust. Everywhere arose the wails of those who
were being horribly tortured to force them to pay
ransom and reveal where their property was con-
cealed. * ( Ibid ). The moral grandeur of Shivaji f s
character rises before us when we remember that
such scenes never disgraced his plundering or even
ravaging of town and country. Not only did he
not inflict unnecessary harm, much less death, but
neither he nor his men touched women or sacred

THE SACK OF SUBAT 163

persons either from lust or greed. Shivaji's orders
were so stern and his influence so great that even
in the detailed Dutch and English letters, describing
the sack of Surat from eye- witnesses, there is no
mention of any women being ill-treated or even
seized. The English no doubt in plundering and
massacring the innocent inhabitants of Jhansi had
given strict orders to soldiers not to touch women
and for this credit is due to them. But this was
an event in modern civilized times. When the
Mahomedansin the 17th century and the Europeans
in the 16th as described above, seized women
for lust and ill-treated and dishonoured holy men,
Shivaji's conduct must be eulogized and his greatness
acknowledged, as he and his soldiers systemati-
cally desisted from touching women and holy men
under the influence of the high teaching of the
Mahabharata contained in S'antiparva.

Even Greeks and Romans in ancient times inflicted
nameless miseries on women of conquered towns.
The ancient I ndo- Aryans never killed people not
fighting or seized or violated women or plundered
religious men and this noble practice and teaching
of the ancients was strictly followed by Shivaju

XXHL OTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN
1664-65

The discomfiture of Shaistekhan and Jasvant-
singh so much incensed Aurangjeb that he not only
decided on sending another general with an over-
whelming force to crush Shivaji, but he also
wrote to the Bijapur Durbar to attack him on their
side. Bijapur accordingly sent a force against
Shivaji directing it to take all the Konkan from
him upto Chaul, as noted in a Karwar English
letter of 4th May 1664 1 . North Konkan being
treated as Mogul territory was left to the Moguls
to conquer. The commandant at Phonda and
Lakham Sawant were asked to join the force.
At this time, Shivaji led a sudden attack against
Mudhol as described in his own letter 2 , which
purports to be written by him to his father and
which gives the account of this raid from his own
mouth. This letter may be taken to be genuine,
being first published by the Alienation Department.
It is doubted whether this incident happened at
this time or later and some think that this letter
was written by Shivaji not to his father but to his
mother. The contents of the letter, however,
appear to us to show that the letter was addressed

1. PS 992. ER 67, p. 87. 2. PS 1041.

BOTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN 1664-65 165

to his father. His father had written to him, as
the letter says in the beginning, that " Khavaskhan
kad started from Bijapur against him, that Bap
Ghorpade and Lakham Sawant had sworn to
assist him with their armies and that as a good son
Shiva ji should carry out his (father's) desire. 1 *
This information, we think, could only have been
given by Shahaji and not by Jijabai who was at
Rajgad and who could not have known these
movements earlier than Shivaji. Shivaji says
further on in this letter that " he, on hearing that
Ba ji Ghorpade was at Mudhol with some followers
suddenly attacked him there and took and plundered
that town, " and that " Baji Ghorpade was killed in
the fierce battle which ensued/ 9 Thus was terrible
revenge taken on Baji Ghorpade who had treacher-
ously arrested Shahaji as already related.

It is true that the history of Mudhol does not
mention this event ( see history recently published
by the state ). But this incident is mentioned in J
though it assigns a different date to it.

Note : The date of this event is given by J as Kartik
S' 1586 (November 1664). But J begins with the statement
that *the peace between Adilshah and Shivaji being
broken, Khavaskhan came to Kudal but he was defeated.'
Now this same incident is detailed in Shivaji *s letter also;
for it says further on that Khavaskhan was also subse-
quently defeated and pursued back towards Bijapur and

166 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

that Skivaji then entered Sawant's territory to punish him
and harried it with fire and sword. J also mentions that
Khavaskhan fled to the Ghats. Thus it seems that J has
mistaken the proper date of this event and has confounded
die first invasion of Khavaskhan with a subsequent one by
the same commandant, as we shall presently see. Then
again J mentions that Shivaji came to the fort of Rajgad
again on Magh Vadya 4, S' 1585 or February 5 t 1664.
Thus it seems probable that Shivaji, after having sacked
Surat from 6th to 9th January !654 f returned the first time
to Rajgad after four or five clays, but that he left it again
on receipt of SSahaji's letter to attack Mudhol and having
taken revenge upon it, he returned a second time to
Rajgad on February 5th. The punishment of Baji Ghorpade
of Mudhol should, therefore, be placed towards the end
of January 1664. Even if it be granted that the letter PS
1041 was in answer to Jipbai's letter, there is no necessity
of changing the date of this event.

Shahaji died in consequence of a fall from his
horse while hunting, on Magh S'uddha 4, S' 1586,
or January 22nd, 1664, and the news must have
reached Shivaji at Rajgad, after some days- The
necessary obsequies being performed, Shivaji start-
ed again for Kudal as Lakh am Sawant had, as
above stated, changed sides and assisted a Bijapur
general In the above noted letter of Shivaji to
his father, we are told that the fort of Phonda
opposed him but that it was mined and taken. The
Firangis who helped Sawant were also attacked
but they concluded peace and presented some guns*

OTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN 1664-65 167

The Sawant also sent Pitambar Shenvi as Vakil
and requested Shivaji to pardon him, promising to
pay half his income as before and these terms were
accepted as he was a Bhosale.

These incidents are supported by contempo-
rary documents, though they speak of a fresh inva-
sion by Bijapur forces assisted by Lakham Sawant.
A farman 1 from Bijapur to the Sawant dated 29th
July 1664 states that " Pitambar Shenvi, envoy of
Lakham Sawant (mentioned in Shiva ji's letter also)
had assisted Azizkhan with a good army.** The next
general sent by Bijapur against Shivaji was thus
Azizkhan, a name mentioned in two subsequent
letters. Karwar English letter 2 , dated 16th Febru-
ary 1664, speaks of Goa preparing against Shivaji
and of the rumour that Shivaji would come against
Karwar. A Dutch letter, dated 3rd August 3 , gives a
budget of news extending over months. " The Sar-
Subedar of Shivaji, Raoji Pandit, invited the Dutch
Vakil on the 22nd ( July ? ) and asked him to induce
the English to come to Rajapur for trade, but the
latter did not trust Raoji and refused to come. 1 *
" Kudal being constantly overrun has suffered- Shivaji
has returned some villages to the Sawant. Adil-
shah returned from Kannada in January after ex-
acting tribute. The people of that part honour and
love Shivaji." Thus it seems that Shivaji again
1. PS 1001. 2. PS 980, ER 81, p. 81. 3. PS 1001

168 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

visited Kudal and drove* away Azizkhan, Aziz*
khan died on June I Oth and he was replaced by
Rustum Jama.

While thus Shivaji was engaged in resisting
frequent invasions of Kudal, he did not forget to
strike 'at the Moguls. Shivaji, seeing that the
Mogul forces had left the Deccan, suddenly went
against Ahmednagar and plundered that town
advancing even as far as AurangabacL In fact,
Shivaji in this year, like a consummate swordsman,
attacked and defended himself against two foes
with wonderful activity, striking now one and now
the other, so that Oxenden said in a letter 1 from
Surat dated 26th June 1664, "a report has made
Shivaji an airy body and added wings also, so that
he was in one place to-day and in another several
miles away to-morrow."

This raid must have happened several months
before August, though it finds mention in an English
letter 2 from Karwar dated 8th August, as such
raids were usually made in the dry season though,
in Ahmednagar district, the rains are never heavy
and continuous as in Konkan. This raid must
have incensed Auranjeb still further and Dag
Register of 1664 on September 14th contains the
report that Aurangjeb " intends himself to march
against Shivaji and is sending out forces daily, * 9
1. PS 9%, ER 89, p. 88. 2. PS 1003, ER 91 p. 90.

OTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN 1664*65 169

( probably as reinforcements to Jaisingh who had
already started). But he sent more urgent calls
upon Bijapur and promised to remit the yearly tri-
bute of 30 thousand hons from it, if it made a strong
effort to put down Shivaji. Bijapur was hitherto
carrying on only a half-hearted campaign against
him. We have seen how Azizkhan Sarnobat had
moved as far as Kadoli and how he had defeated
Raoji Pandit who fell back upon Rajapur. 1 But
Azizkhan was driven back by Shivaji probably in
May and he died in June. The Dutch Viceroy
even thought that the Adilshah was simply making
a show of fighting with Shivaji but had inwardly
agreed with him for a share of plunder. This does
not seem to be true, though it may be granted that
neither Azizkhan nor Rustum Jama who succeeded
him in the business worked sincerely 2 and hence
the Mogul emperor was justified in bringing strong
pressure on the Bijapur Durbar.

Taylor's letter from Karwar, dated 29th Octo-
ber 3 1664, states that Vengurla was burnt to the
ground and Bijapur forces were repulsed. This
shows that a strong force was sent by Bijapur but
that it was defeated before this date by Shivaji's
army. Alinama which gives no dates and which des-
cribes all events introduced by imaginary dramatic
speeches, details how Khavaskhan took up the
. 1. PS 1011. 2. PS 1030. 3.' PS 1015, ER 93, p. 91.

170 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

gauntlet" thrown by Shivaji, when asked by All
Adilshah who would go against Shivaji, how he
went to the Konkan where a battle was fought,
introduced by vaunting speeches and finally how^
Shivaji who had surrounded the Bi japur force failed
to achieve anything. This was looked upon as a
defeat of Shivaji and the Adilshahi vakil informed
the Portuguese Viceroy at Goa that Khavaskhan
was victorious in the conflict between him and
Shivaji. This letter, dated 3rd December 1664 1 ,
shows that this conflict must have taken place
about the end of November. It may be the same
event as is noted in J or a different one previous
to it, as the date given in J is Kartik S'. 1 586 and
this month of Kartik extended from 10th October to
7th November 1664 and as J mentions that Khavas-
khan was defeated.

Whether there was a defeat or a mere dis-
comfiture or even a partial success of the Bijapur
army, it is certain that Shivaji took advantage of
Khavaskhan's army being in Konkan and sending
up the Ghats a strong force or himself going there
sacked Hubli and other towns in Bijapur territory
in the month of December as stated in a Karwar
English letter dated 14th December I664. 2 J states
that the king plundered Khudavantpur in Marga-
shirsh S'. 1586 (Dec. 1664).

1. PS 1020. 2. PS 1024, ER 99, p. 94.

OTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN 1664-65 171

Shiva ji next took another and a more daring
plundering expedition against Barcelore. Going
there in his own navy he plundered that town in the
month of Magha (February 1 665, J). While returning
he did not fail, as a devout Hindu, to visit Gokarna
where there was the famous Shiva shrine of Maha-
baleshwar. When returning from Mahabaleshwar
he was delayed by an adverse wind for some days.
The account of this raid given in Karwar English
letter, dated 14th March 1665 1 , is worth repeating
here : " In the beginning of February, Shivaji start-
ed from Malvan in person with a fleet of 85
frigates and 3 great ships and sailing by Goa, with**
out impediment, arrived at Barcelore and plunder-
ed that town. While returning, he stopped at
Gokarna where he washed his body according to
the ceremony of that place and then came to
Ankola with 4,000 men. On 22nd February he came
to Karwar ; but, thank God, all the property and
cash of the Company was already removed to a
ship.'* Finally, it is related that after a stay of one
day, a truce was arranged with the governor, Sher-
khan, by which the merchants of the place paid a
tribute to Shivaji, the English bearing their part
of it, and on the 23rd Shivaji departed, saying that
" he had spoilt his Holi hunt. " (23rd February 1665
fell on Phalgun 15 of S . 1586 ).
1. ER 107, p. 97.

172 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Thus from January 1664 to March 1665,
Shivaji carried out raids on several places both
in Mogul and in Adilshahi territory, plunder-
ing many towns and acquiring the means of
maintaining a large army. Kudal was more than
once taken by Bijapur and Shivaji retook it every
time and in addition raided Hubli and Barcclore-
The Konkan territory thus remained in Shiva ji's
possession including Vengurla, Rajapur and
several other ports on the Konkan coast 1 . Shivaji
remained at intervals at Pratapgad, Raigad,
Rajgad, Purandar or Sinhgad ; but it was always
difficult to know where he was and what were his
designs, these being known only after their exe-
cution ( 4*4144)41: 5JTWT: ' Kalidasa ') Thus while it was
known that he would again plunder Surat, he in-
stead went southwards to Barcclore. He had a
very efficient service for spying and he got accurate
information about the movements of his enemies.
He, therefore, in Chaitra S'* 1587 ( March) went to
Purandar where Jaisingh arrived in Vaishakh
( April 8th ) with his overwhelming force (J). The
exact date of Jaisingh's arrival according to
Persian papers was 31st March, 1663.
Note.-BARCELORE

There is no port of this name on the West Coast of
India now. The Imperial Gazetteer indentifies Barcelore

1. 1010 Dag R. Oct. 6th.

* OTHER SURPRISE ATTACKS IN 1664-45 173

with Basrur which is a village in Coondapoor Taluq of
South Canara. " It had a wall and a fort. It carried on
trade with Malabar and Persia. When the Portuguese
settled at Coondapoor in the 18th century, the town
declined.

Mr. Shejavalkar doubts this indentif ication and sug-
gests that the town plundered was Barkur. Imperial
Gazetteer describes Barkur as a village in Udipa Taluq of
South Canara. *' It was the capital of the Tulu-speaking
people. When Vijayanagar was founded (in 1336) it placed
a viceroy here. On the fall of Vijayanagar Bednur asserted
its authority over the village. The Jains were almost
extirpated and it fell into ruin. It has a fort and some
Jain shrines only remain. " Under Coondapoor. Imperial
Gazetteer says that it was fortified by the Portuguese in
the 16th century and that it stands on an estuary of three
rivers. It is thus a good port. Bednur kings held sway here.

The difficulty thus remains of deciding which was
Barcelore* Shejavalkar says that c ought to be pronounced
k and the name was really Barkilore. But it is not still
Barkur as it cannot be explained. Basrur and Barkur are
both inland towns, probably connected with the sea by
creeks like Kalyan or Rajapur. The settlement of the
Portuguese at Coondapur is given as 18th and 16th century.
The former would show that Basrur was still prosperous*
Finally J names the town plundered as Besnur*

XXIV. THE MOGUL AND THE MARATHA

Now came a turn in the fortunes of Shivaji
which threatened to destroy his work of 20 years
( 1645-65 ) t by which he had built up a Maratha
kingdom, practically independent of either Delhi
or Bijapur. He was now faced with the prospect
of a fight with a force which was likely to crush
him in spite of his bravery and resourcefulness*
Indeed, the game of chess which the two craftiest
and most powerful men of India of the time were
playing on the board of Maharashtra, had come to
its critical point. Of the two, the Mogul Aurangjeb
and the Maratha Shivaji, the latter was, however,
bound to succeed, according to the immortal maxim
of Mahabharata, 4 Where there is righteousness
there is victory * ' 3?fr ^f^crat sw i. * The former was
trying to impose slavery on another nation, while
the latter was trying to free a nation from foreign
slavery. By. what several stages, Shivaji eventually
succeeded in this critical year ( 1 665), we will recount
in this and the next chapter with the help chiefly
of original letters.

Garry's letter from Surat, dated 22nd March 1
1665* states that " Aurangjeb has sent to the Deccan

1. PS 1028, ER 108. p. 100.

THE MOGUL AND THE MARATHA 175

an army of one lakh of horse and it was likely
that the Mogul would take from Shivaji the whole
country from Bombay to Chaul which would benefit
the trade of the English/' The Portuguese werc t
however, rather afraid of the Moguls, for they had
helped Shivaji and the Viceroy of Goa wrote to
Jaisingh that the Portuguese never assisted Shivaji
though there were several Portuguese in his service
as of other states 1 * He at the same time privately
instructed Bassein officers to secretly sell to Shivaji
powder and provision, as it was not good that
Shiva ji's country should be occupied by the Moguls 2 .
Before Jaisingh arrived in the Deccan, he had
been instructed to destroy both Bijapur and Poona
though he might sometimes use one against the
other. The fear that Jaisingh would first invade
Konkan was removed when he encamped between
Purandar and Poona for the reason given in his
letter to Aurangjeb, 3 namely, that he believed that
Shivaji and Adilshah were friendly and might
combine against him, whereas from Sasw&v he
could keep an eye on both. These
supported by rumours mentioned
letter dated 14th April. 4

1. PS 1047, dated 21st March (

2. PS 1055, 8th April ( Hiras. ).

3. PS 105 1, Jaisingh *s letters in M&fcfh

4. PS 1056, ER I1 1, p. 101.

176 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Unable to fight with or outwit Jaisingh, Shivaji
thought it prudent to submit to the Mogul on honour-
able terms and he began correspondence with both
Jaisingh and Dilerkhan, h& second in command, on
the subject.* But he did not remain in Purandar and
moved about and even plundered some enemies
like the Dutch and the ships of Kashiba in the port
of Kharepatan where he was about the end of May 1 *
Jaisingh was chief in command unlike Jasvant-
singh who, in the preceding Mogul invasion, was
die second of Shaistekhan who was his chief and
lie thought it convenient to secure honourable peace
without sacrificing men and money. It was almost
impossible to subdue Shivaji with his army of
10 thousand horse and 50 thousand foot 2 , with his
* It is supposed by some that Shivaji first appeal-
ed to the Hindu feeling of Jaisingh and then proposed
terms of peace. A long letter of Shivaji to Jaisingh ( PS
1042 ) has been published by the Nagari Pracharini
Sabha ; but this letter is not quite reliable as it contains at
the end a statement by Shivaji ( in fact an admission)
that Shivaji first struck Afzalkhan, which is not correct, as
we know from SB and all Marathi accounts* Moreover,
Shivaji must have known that Jaisingh was not the man to
whom such patriotic and religious sentiments could appeal.

1. PS 1060, Dag Register dated 12th June and PS
1063, dated 29th June.

2. PS 1023. This Dag Register, dated 7th Dec. 1664,
further mentions that Shivaji had 40 fast-going ships at

( Continued on the next page )

THE MOGUL AND THE MABATHA 177

strong forts from Trimbak to Vishalgad, with his
intricate, sudden and constant movements in the
mountainous country, every pass and defile of
which was known to him. Above all, Jaisingh
did not think it advisable to fight with Shivaji in
the mountains where Afzalkhan had found his
grave and Shaistekhan's lieutenant had lost his
honour. Dilerkhan, Jaisingh' s second in command,
however, was anxious to visit these defiles and
passes and to try conclusions against Shivaji's forts. 1
As Sabhasad relates, differing from Jaisingh, he
at once proceeded against the fort of Purandar
with 5,000 Pathans and some chosen Rajputs.
Morar Baji Prabhu, commandant of the fort, made
a sally with 300 Mawalas and courageously attack-
ed him ; and after killing many men he fell in the
fight. The men on the fort, however, still defended
it with vigour against Dilerkhan who came thus to
know the difficulties of taking Shivaji's forts and
eventually gave his consent to the peace proposals
which were being carried on between Jaisingh and
Shivaji,*

hand and had laid 60 more in Kharepatan and Rajapur creeks
and that he had not yet been divested of Kudal by Bijapur.
1. PS 1065, Jaisingh f s letter.

* Jaisingh accepted proposals of peace, because he saw
the difficulty of an armed conflict and not because he was

( Continued on the next page )
S. 12

178 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Terms were finally settled and accepted by
Aurangjeb. Shivaji was to hand over 23 forts with
the territory commanded by them of the yearly in-
come of 4 lakhs of hons and Shivaji was to keep 12
forts including Rajgad,Raigad, andTorana and the
rest of his territory of the income of 1 lakh of hons*
for loyally serving Aurangjeb as a subordinate
chieftain. 1 It was subsequently proposed that
Shivaji should keep theTalKonkan with an income
of 4 lakhs of hons and also have the corresponding
Ghat-Matha to be conquered from Bijapur worth
5 lakhs of hons, paying as peshkash, 40 lakhs of
hons in 1 3 years. Jaisingh recommended this pro*
posal, as 40 lakhs of hons meant 2 crores of rupees
and as the troublesome hilly country could best be
managed by Shivaji alone. It was, of course, intend-
ed in this suggestion that the Mogul and the Maratha
were to combine against Adilshah. 2 Shivaji accord-

( Continued from the last page )

appealed to as a Hindu and as a Rajput, as stated already.
We have even evidence that he tried to create defection
in the ranks of Shiva ji's followers. That he resorted to
'bheda' is certain from his letter to Aurangjeb ( PS 1053)
in which he tells him that he had invited Chandrarao
More 'a relative and the son of Afzalkhan and the Maho-
medan servants of Shivaji who were manufacturing guns
for him as also Shivaji's comrades* on promises of mansab.

1. P 1064, Haft Anjuman, Benares.

2. PS 1060.

THE MOGUL AND THE MARATHA 179

ingly submitted a petition to Aurangjeb, expressing
contrition and promising obedience in all matters. 1
A letter from Dilerkhan 2 also states that Aurangjeb
has accepted Shivaji's petition and has sanctioned a
mansab of six thousand horse to Shivaji's son Sam-
bhaji and the grant of a reward of 2 lakhs of rupees* 1
Sambhaji was at this time 8 years old, being born on
Jyeshtha S'uddha 12, S'J579 f corresponding to 14th
May, 1657 (J), and he was made amansabdar even
at this age according to the custom of the time.

A florid account is given by many, of the per-
sonal visit of Shivaji to both Jaisingh and Diler-
khan, the latter especially being on his guard at the
time of the visit, remembering Afzalkhan's fate; but
as there was nothing wrong in the minds of either,
the negotiations were successful. This momentous
visit took place on Ashadh S'. 10, S'. 1587, or 12th
June 1665, as is specially noted in J. It was also
settled that the three should proceed against Bijapur
on the plea that it had not paid the annual tribute
for several years. The imperial farman which
has been printed 3 repeats the above conditions
and adds the provision that Shivaji should faithfully
assist Jaisingh against Bijapur and Bijapur should
be conquered* The farman details the 12 forts

1. PS 1067.

2. PS 1068, Dilerkhan's letter, Riasat

3. PS 1083.

180 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

which were to be retained by Shivaji. Shiva ji f
as was customary, went three miles to receive the
gracious f arman in company of Jaisingh's officer on
the 30th of September I665 1 . It seems from the list
of the 12 forts given to Shivaji, including as they
did Rajgad, Raigad and Lingamgad, that he retain-
ed now only the territory about them to the south
of the Nira and that he handed over to the Moguls
his original jagir of Poona, Supa and Indapur as
also the Nizamshahi Konkan fromKalyan to Chaul,
as is clear from a Bombay letter 2 and also from
a Surat letter dated 1st January 1666 3 . Though
apparently he remained master of about 10 lakhs
of hons territory, 5 lakhs worth had to be acquired
and the loss of Sinhgad and Purandar with the
surrounding Poona district, his home, must have been
a great sacrifice-* Shivaji promised to keep 5,000
horse for the mansab of Sambha ji and the pay to be
received for it was to be counted as paid in the
yearly instalment of 3 lakhs of hons for peshkash.

1. PS 1088.

2. PS 1098. The English expressed their satisfaction
that the Moguls were now in possession of the territory
adjoining Bombay, as their trade would prosper.

3. PS 1103.

* The district of Poona was already under the Moguls
from 1660 when Shaistekhan invaded it and took up his
quarters in the town of Poona. Mr. D. V* Kale has shown

( Continued on the next page )

THE MOGUL AND THE MABATHA 181

As soon as the rains ceased, Shivaji with his
usual vigour and celerity drove away the Bijapur
army which was in Tal Konkan and even ad-
vanced into the Ghat- Math a territory of Bijapur. 1
But Muhammad Ikhlaskhan returned to Kudal and
attacked Shivaji's men and retook this territory*
The task of taking Bijapur territory in Tal Konkan
and Ghat-Matha was thus not an easy thing.

Jaisingh was anxious to settle matters with
Bijapur also peacefully according to its proposal ;
but Dilerkhan was, as before, anxious to fight and
vowed to conquer Bijapur and drink water inside
that city. 2 But he failed as before, as will just be
seen. The Mogul army marched no doubt against
Bijapur and Shivaji joined the force and conquered
Phaltan, his Mawalas escalading its fort for which

this from a letter to Deva of Chinchwad, dated Jyeshtha
6, S'. 1586 ( published in B. H. S. M. Quarterly, XI, 4 ),
which proves that the rule of Shaistekhan was acknow-
ledged by the people* It is further proved by No.l3 9 Khand
XV111, dated S'. 1588. describing Poona as in Sarkar Jun-
nar, Suba Aurangabad. Thus though Shaistekhan had
returned, Moguls remained in possession of the Poona Dis-
trict. Shivaji had, however, the possession of the dominat-
ing forts of Sinhgad and Purandar. Even these Shivaji had
to deliver when he concluded peace with Jaisingh in 1666.

1. PS 1096. Pisurlekar, Goa letter dated 27 Nov.

2. PS 1097; Karwar English letter dated 27th
Nov. 1665; ER 116, p. 106.

182 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Aurangjeb expressed his satisfaction 1 . Ali Adilshah
made a strong effort to defend Bi japur. He, however,
called his best generals and all his army and laid
waste the territory about it for about 4 miles in
order to prevent the Mogul army from obtaining
provisions and even water 2 . Bijapur had an army
of 35 thousand horse and 5 thousand foot encamped
outside the city. Alinama describes with flourishes
how this Bijapur army inflicted a defeat on the
Moguls and how Dilerkhan was made conscious
of the fact that Bijapur at bay was difficult to be
conquered. Eventually a truce was settled between
the belligerents. Bijapur secretly paying a large
sum as tribute ( J ), probably 9 lakhs of hons offered
in the beginning 3 and the Mogul army returned
without achieving much.

The game which the Mogul and the Maratha
were playing on the board of Maharashtra with
the help of armies was thus over to the discredit
of neither ; but a more difficult game with the help
of deception and diplomacy now began on the plain
of Northern India with a far different result, as will
be shown in the next chapter.

1. His letter dated 25th December, PS 1099.

2. PS 1101, Gyfford's letter from Karwar, 29th
December ; ER 1 18, p. 107.

3- PS 1 102, Oxenden from Surat, 29th Dec. 1665 ;
ER 1 17, p, 108.

XXV. THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE IN
INDIAN HISTORY

The visit of Shiva ji to Aurangjeb at Agra, his
imprisonment there by Aurangjeb and his escape
form the most romantic episode in his life and in
the history of India, if not of the world. Diplo-
macy and deception were met successfully by
deplomacy and deception and the work of the uplift
of the people of Maharashtra, which Shivaji had
taken up as the business of his life, was not only
not destroyed but was strongly furthered and soon
accomplished. We have not many records to tell us
the true story of this extraordinary incident and
have consequently to rely much on conjecture.
We will tell the story, however, as far as possible,
from original records arranged and published in
Patrasarasangraha.

The letters of Jaisingh to Aurangjeb and vict
versa have been published ; and the first letters,
which embody the negotiations for peace, do not
tell us that paying respects to the emperor by
Shivaji personally was one of the conditions of
peace. The proposal was, however, talked about
in September .1665, as a Karwar English letter 1

1. PS 1085; ER 11 5, p. 105.

184 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWARAJ

tells us. It does not clearly appear who made
the suggestion; but Jaisingh seems to have made it,
probably to ensure Shivaji's reconciliation and to
secure his employment in the Imperial service.
Shivaji, however, refused to take any mansabdari
for himself, though he consented to take one for his
son. Jaisingh f s letter dated 16th February 1666 men-
tions a further reason, namely, that Shivaji should
go to the north and not remain in the Deccan where
Govalkonda and Bijapur had combined against the
Moguls at this time and Shivaji had to be prevented
from joining the two. 1 Aurangjeb, with a purpose
of his own, accepted this suggestion and, according
to the recommendation of Jaisingh, issued orders
for Shivaji's being treated with the honour due to
royal princes, on his way to the north. Aurangjeb's
letter to Shivaji himself, dated 6th April 1666,
expressly contains the assurance that he would be
received with honour and then granted permission to
return 2 . This means that Shiva jihad a suspicion that
he might either be detained in custody or on pretext
of some service. Public talk told him that he might
be employed on service in Kabul. It is quite possible
that Aurangjeb intended from the first to inveigle
Shivaji into his clutches and then keep him
imprisoned. Nothing was beyond him who had

1. PS 1112, Bhandarkar Volume.

2. PS 1128.

THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE 185

imprisoned his own father and Shiva ji had specially
affronted him and opposed him from the beginning.
In his first letter to Jaisingh, Aurangjeb took him
to task for allowing Shivaji to go away when he
had himself come to see Jaisingh. This letter,
dated 6th August 1665, 1 is important as giving us
an insight into his mind. " Why did you allow
Shivaji to go ?" said he. 4< What oaths has he taken
so that you did not take into consideration his
faithlessness ?"

Shivaji must have foreseen all this and must
have resolved to go after full consideration. The
question why Shivaji consented to go is difficult
to answer. It is sometimes supposed that Shivaji
wished to obtain the viceroyalty of the Deccan
after conquering Bijapur and Govalkonda and
then to offer a bold front to Aurangjeb. He also,
it is thought, intended to personally impress on
the Rajput princes the necessity and feasibility
of combining and subverting the Mahomedan
power. But Shivaji, we think, knew Aurangjeb
and the Rajput princes too well to have entertained
any such idea. It is possible that Shivaji wanted
to see the state of things in the Mogul empire for
himself and to find out its weaknesses as well as
to get into touch with Rajput princes- But more than
this, we think that Shivaji well knew that he had
1. PS 1077.

186 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

no other alternative but to go and decided upon
going. He relied upon his own strength, his own re-
sourcefulness, his own capacity to meet deception
by deception. Further he had implicit faith in his
high destiny and in the righteousness of the cause
ke had taken up. He had also full faith in the
loyalty and devotion of his followers who were
ready to lay down their lives for him and his great
cause. In fine, we think, there was no go for
him but to go and he saw that he must take the
risk involved, according to the maxim of the
Mahabharata already noted

44 A man sees not good things with't dangers braved ;
He sees them only, if through danger saved. "

He, therefore, finally resolved to risk the under-
taking and prepared for his long journey. A Surat
letter 1 already speaks on 29th December 1665, that
Shivaji was preparing to go with his son to see the
emperor taking many rich presents with him.

He had joined the Mogul camp though he was
usually out of its reach for fear that he might be
arrested and sent as a prisoner and he moved about
taking Bijapur territory round Panhala 2 . He took
leave of Jaisingh and came to Raj gad. He called
a council of his followers, made known to them his-
resolve and took the necessary measures for the

1. PS 1102; ER 117, p. 106.

2. PS 1105, Jmisingh's letter.

THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE 187

government of his state in his absence. Moropant
Pingle, Abaji Sondeo and Anna ji Datto were given
full powers. Kadatoji Gujar was appointed com-
mander -in -chief . Netaji Palkar was called but he
did not attend the meeting and went to Bijapur
instead. Probably this was a ruse and we are
not prepared to believe that Netaji who was
styled ' second Shivaji ' was disloyal or was won
over by Jaisingh or Adilshah, as a contemporary
letter says. 1 He, however, went eventually ta
Northern India after Shivaji had left Rajgad.

Taking the blessings of his beloved mother,,
Shivaji left Rajgad on Phalgun S'. 9, S/ 1587 ( 15th
March 1666 ), together with his son ( J ). He took
with him trusted men like Tanaji, Yesaji, Sarjerao
Jedhe,Trimbak ji etc. and Niraji. Jaisingh had assured
him on his honour that he would not be harmed and
that his son Ramsingh at the Imperial Court would
stand guarantee for his safety. How far Jaisingh

1. Karwar letter dated 24th April 1666 (PS 1 102; ER
126, p. Ill), giving a budget of news, tells that Netaji was
won over by Adilshah and given a jagir of one lakh of
hons. He, however, handed over the territory to the
Moguls who subsequently arrested him. " Some say that
he was killed, but others that he was alive '*. We know
that he was alive, went to the north and was forcibly
converted in 1667 ( Maasir-i-Alamgir-Tilak ). He finally
returned and was reconverted on Ashad Vadya 4 S'* 1 598*
19th June 1676 (J).

188 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

was honest cannot be definitely stated, though
nothing which happened hereafter goes to show
that he was privy to any sinister plan. Shivaji,
however, got the first idea of this when at Auranga-
bad he was not well treated by the Mogul Subedar
who did not go forward to receive him. From
Aurangabad, taking the usual route via Handia,
Bhopal, Sironge, Narvar f Gwalior and Dholpur,
Shivaji arrived at Agra on 9th May. Aurangjcb
was at Agra, Shahjahan being recently dead, and
held a big Durbar to receive Shivaji. Ramsingh
introduced him in this Durbar held on the 12th in the
Diwan-i-Am. There was an impressive assemblage
of Amirs and Rajput princes, standing with folded
hands on both sides, in different compartments.
On the other side of a silver railing, Aurangjeb
was seated on the most brilliant and costly
( peacock ) throne in the world, with royal princes
seated on the steps and with hundreds of armed
attendants ready, behind a screen. Shivaji fear-
lessly entered this august Durbar held to receive
him and made due obeisance from a distance.
He thought he would be treated as a prince ; but
he was pointed out a place among third class
sardars and had to stand. He was beside him-
self with rage at this treatment and said so to
Ramsingh who had meanwhile presented the
things he had brought. What actually happened

THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE 189

there hereafter, we do not exactly know. Pro-
bably Shivaji sat down or sank down with rage
and this was a transgression of the Durbar
procedure, as is mentioned in a letter by Jaisingh's
gumasta 1 . Aurangjeb at once dissolved the Durbar
and Shivaji returned to the place of his residence
where on the next day Fauladkhan Kotwal (Police
Chief Officer ) himself mounted guard with five
thousand men by order of the emperor. The
above letter from the gumasta of Jaisingh states
that "the emperor has debarred Shivaji from
coming to the Durbar again for some time only for
transgressing ceremonial rules. It is his intention
to send him back after showing him some favour
and doing him honour."

The news flew to the Deccan, as swiftly as
swift couriers could run and Jaisingh was apprised
of it in a week. From his letter 2 he appears first
not to have blamed his son, his responsibility
having ceased, but he expressed sorrow at the
prospect of Shivaji being kept in confinement
under Ramsingh's supervision. Jaisingh advised
Aurangjeb to keep Shivaji confined and not to
allow him to return, as Govalkonda and Bijapur
had combined and, as already stated, Shivaji might
join them on return. " Shivaji should be well cared

1. PS 1 129 dated June 1666, Bhandarkar Volume.

2. P 1130.

190 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

for ; otherwise his officers being enraged and
believing Shivaji's life to be in danger, might think
of doing so". Jaisingh also complained in this
letter of Bijapur affairs lingering on and becoming
more complicated.

The expected had happened and Shivaji was
confined in Agra with no prospect of release. But
the unexpected was soon to happen and it did hap*
pen on one day, when it was discovered to Faulad-
khan's consternation and the emperor's amaze-
ment and chagrin, on August 1 7, that Shivaji had
escaped. The mountain rat had given the slip
to the cat even in the plains and in the cat's
own house.

Shivaji must have foreseen this misfortune and
must have made suitable provision against it even
when he started. With a mind never daunted by any
disaster and a resourcefulness which rose equal to
any contingency, Shivaji planned a scheme for es-
cape- He expressed no dissatisfaction at his confine-
ment, honourable as it was; and even sent away his
men and military followers, with the consent of the
emperor which was naturally easily obtained. He
then feigned illness and called in hakims and
began to send presents in boxes to fakirs and
grandees* Manuchi says that by Aurangjeb's
order a separate palace was being built, suitable
I. P. 1 132, Bhandarkar Com. Vol.

THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE 191

for Shivaji's permanent confinement, like that
of his father on the fort, and Shivaji was to be
removed to that palace, doomed to decadence
and death, also like his father. But Shivaji
forestalled Aurangjeb and one evening at about
4 p. m. he and his son went out of their guarded
house, concealed in two boxes along with other
boxes carrying presents. They passed the guards
unchallenged. The bearers took the boxes to a place
about three miles out of Agra, where Nira ji, Tanaji
and others were waiting with horses. They paid
the bearers handsomely and sent them back
pleased. Crossing the Jumna, they proceeded north-
wards instead of southwards and recrossing the
river came to Mathura where thousands of pilgrims
had gathered for the Janmashtami festival. There
were already in Mathura three relatives of Moro-
pant Peshwa who perhaps were sent there when
Shivaji started for Agra with a view to assist him
in the event foreseen. Mathura was a sacred place
between Delhi and Agra and Shivaji would cer-
tainly visit it in any case and perform its pilgri-
mage. Shivaji got himself shaved ; and, besmeared
with ashes as a Gosavi, he, with Niraji as the
leader of the party of Gosavis, started for Tirtha-
yatra. Niraji was conversant with many tongues
and led the party, doing bhajans, to Prayag and
thence to Kashi and thence to Jagannath. Sambhaji

192 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

was kept with the Tirthopadhyaya of Mathura
to whom the secret had been divulged by Moro-
pant Pingle's men and he was to reach him to the
Deccan, when called for.

Having finished the Tirthayatra, the party

travelled from Jagannath to Indur on the Godavari,

through Gondvan and from thence, via Govalkonda

and Bijapur, they came to Gokarna on the west

coast. Thence they reached Raj gad on the 20th of

November (Margashirsha S'. 5, J). Stories are told

even by Kaf ikhan of how Shiva ji was on the point

of being discovered at various places, Aurangjeb

having issued immediate orders to the Suba officers

throughout his dominion to watch for Shivaji and

arrest him. But these stories are not quite reliable

and it is not necessary to relate them here. Suffice

it to say that good luck favoured Shivaji and the

holy cause he had undertaken ; and successfully

undergoing all the -troubles and sufferings of a travel

on foot and of the life of a Gosavi for three months,

Shivaji stood before his mother on that eventful

day to the greatest exultation of her and of the

whole of Maharashtra. The glad tidings spread so

swiftly that a Surat letter dated 24th November. 1

only four days after the event, stated that "Shivaji

had escaped and would now trouble the whole

country."

1. PS 1 142; ER 132, p. 116.

THE MOST ROMANTIC EPISODE 19?

Note : Further details of the event.

PS 1136. Surat letter, dated 25th September 1666,
( ER 129, p. 114) states that Shivaji being placed among:
Umraos of lower grade fearlessly left the court in rage,
not counting even the emperor. This shows that the
story about Shivaji's calling for a dagger from Ram-
singh to commit suicide is an absurd later suggestion.
The postscript of the letter records the news of Shivaji's
escaping with his son in two baskets.

PS 1139, Jaisingh's letter dated 5th November, shows
that he too had sent detectives in false dresses to ferret
out Shivaji. PS 1141. Surat letter dated November 1666
(ER 133, p. 11 6), details how Jaisingh threatened to take his
own life, if Aurangjeb would do harm to Shivaji's life and
that consequently the latter handed Shivaji over to
Ramsingh's custody. After his escape, Aurangjeb suspected
Ramsingh of connivance and dismissed him from his man-
sab. Aurangjeb wished to send a large force again to the
Deccan, but he was prevented by an invasion from the
north by the king of Persia and he called back Jaisingh.

Sabhasad describes how Hiroji Farjand* (illegitimate
half-brother of Shivaji and like him in appearance ) slept
on Shivaji's couch feigning illness, covered with a shawl,
the whole night and also the next day till afternoon,
how watchmen often came in and saw Shivaji still
asleep, his hand coming out with a diamond ring
on one finger and how Hiroji got up in the after-
noon, put on his own clothes and went out, saying he was
going to fetch medicine and asking the guards not to
allow anybody to go in and disturb Shivaji's sleep. He

*This Persian word means a son, but in Marathi it is
applied to an illegitimate son.
S. 13

194 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

too thus slipped away together with the boy who had
sat all the while shampooing Shivaji's feet. His name is
given as Madari Mehtar by others and he was a Mahome-
dan. This shows how even Mahomedan servants were
loyal to Shivaji and were also trusted by him. The guards,
after some time, finding everything quiet, informed
Fauladkhan who thereon went in and found nobody.
He was aghast and immediately informed the emperor
that Shivaji had disappeared, even like a magician.

J records that Trimbakpant Dabir and Raghunathpant
Korde were arrested on S'ravan Amavasya, four days
after Shivaji had escaped. They had taken a different route.
They were confined in Agra but were released in March
1667. J also mentions strangely enough that Shivaji came to
Rajgad wih Sambha ji. This is not correct, as Sambhaji could
not have returned the same day as and with Shivaji 1 . But he
was safely brought to Rajgad by the Deccani Brahmins
Krishnajipant and others. Shivaji felt so grateful to them that
he gave them one lakh of hons as reward and the title of
Vishvasrao(S) g Shivaji appointed Niraji Pandit,the leader of
his party of Gosavis, N> ayadhish or Chief Judge and Dattaji-
pant, Waknis of the state. Ragho Maratha, the servant, the
fourth companion, was appointed head of Hujurias or private
servants. Shivaji was as prompt in rewarding as in punishing.
Prompt and severe punishment for serious misdeeds and
immediate and generous reward for distinguished services
are the sine qua n<m of the master's influence and Shivaji
was thus both feared and loved by his followers.

1. See also PS 1145, dated December 1666. a letter
from Udayaraj, Gumasta of Jaisingh, which speaks of
Shivaji's return and of his anxiety for his son.

2. PS 1458 of S. 1593 confirms this, but speaks of
one lakh of rupees.

XXVI. CONCILIATION AND
CONSOLIDATION

When Shivaji returned, Jaisingh was at
Aurangabad, having retreated there successfully,
from his unsuccessful attempt to conquer Bijapur
which kept on attacking his rear in the guerilla
fashion through Maratha sardars, at the same time
keeping on talks of peace with payment of tribute.
There were three enemies thus against the Moguls
now, Bijapur, Govalkonda and Rajgad* The Moguls
were also in difficulty on the North- Western
frontier of their empire. The offer which Shivaji
now made of peace was consequently acceptable
to Aurangjeb. The Mogul and the Maratha were
now marshalling, not armies but artifices, on the
chess-board of Maharashtra to secure their own
ends. Shivaji, instead of resorting to hostilities, as
expected, like an escaped wounded tiger, wrote a
letter to Aurangjeb that he still wished to serve
the emperor and remain at peace with him 1 .
Jaisingh had no doubt made provision, by appointing
officers, for keeping Shiva ji's territory of Poona,
Supa and Indapur in imperial possession ; but it was
constantly harassed by Shiva ji f s adherents. Thus a
letter of Jaisingh's gumasta 2 shows that Babaji

1. PS 1158, 22nd April 1667.

i. P 1145, December 1666, Bhand. Corn. Vol.

196 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Bhosale, probably from Khandesh, who was in
charge of Supa, had to fight with Mahadji Nimbal-
kar, son of Shiva ji's son-in-law Bajaji ; he was
eventually killed in a sudden raid by the latter.
Jaisingh could not move against him from Auranga-
bad for fear of an attack by Bijapur on Mogul
territory during his absence. Shivaji, taking
advantage of the difficulty experienced by the
Moguls in holding his territory, offered to hold it on
behalf of the emperor and to keep his son with
5,000 horse with the Moguls for their service. These
peace terms were eventually accepted by Aurangjeb
and Shivaji's territory was returned to him, the
emperor keeping, as suzerain power, as before, the
two strong forts in the territory, Sinhgad and
Purandar. The Konkan territory from Kalyan to
Chaul was also given back with the exception of
the forts of Karnala and Mahuli. This peace was
made in Chaitra S'. 1 589 ( J ) which means that the
above letter of Shivaji, dated 22nd April 1667, was
written after his proposals had been accepted. In
making these proposals, Shivaji may also have
requested the release of his two men, Trimbak and
Raghunath Korde, who were imprisoned in Agra
and who were accordingly released at about the
same time as noted in J.

Jaisingh was fighting with three enemies as
best as he could and was ready to do any act of

CONCILIATION AND CONSOLIDATION 197

treachery against Shiva ji in the interest of Aurang-
jeb ( see his letter 1 to Jafferkhan, dated 1666, pro-
bably December- Bhand. Com. Vol. ); but the em-
peror distrusted him, thinking him also privy to
Shivaji's escape, and recalled him. Muajjam was
appointed governor of the Deccan and Jaswant-
singh again his sub- commander. Dilerkhan was ap-
pointed to Malwa to keep watch on both ; for
Aurangjeb suspected everybody of evil designs
like himself. Jaisingh gave over charge to Muajjam
in May and broken-hearted proceeded towards
the north ; but he died on the way at Burhanpur
on 2 July 1667-a sad end indeed after such loyal
service of his master!!! Shivaji sent his son in Kar-
tik or September 1667 ( J) f accompanied by Pratap-
rao ( originally Kadatoji ) Gujar, commander of
5,000 horse, to pay respects to the emperor's son.
Sambhaji was mansabdar no doubt ; but being
young he was excused personal service and he
was sent back after he had paid his respects to
Jaswantsingh ( J ) Shivaji was given a jagir in
Berar for this mansab (not in Nasik or Nagar
which adjoined his territory), at the time of this
peace and Shivaji sent a mokasdar to take charge
of it. In this conciliatory manner, Shivaji gained
back his own old territory including Karyat Mawal 2

1. PS 1152.

2. PS 1154.

198 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF. MARATHA SWARAJ

and a large addition too, in Berar, which Sabhasad
estimates as worth 15 lakhs of hons, probably an
exaggeration.

It must have taken some time before Shivaji
got his original territory back and we actually
find 1 that pargana Poona was still treated as in
the Sarkar of Junnar in the Suba of Aurangabad*
Shivaji must, therefore, have felt it inconvenient
to retain Rajgad as his chief residing fort. He
also had to settle matters with his southern enemies,
Bijapur and others. He appears at this time to
have hence chosen Raigad as his second chief fort,
it being also stronger and more extensive than
Rajgad. We find from a letter 2 from the Governor
of Goa to Shivaji ( Pisurlekar ) that Shivaji was
then residing at Raigad, having removed there from
Manohargad, the place of his temporary sojourn
and that the Governor .sent there his letter of
congratulation on his escape from Agra- The
Portuguese from the first were friendly to Shivaji*
just as the Dutch and the English were usually
unfriendly.

The Konkan territory from Chaul to Kudal
remained practically with the Marathas during
Shivaji's absence, though attempt was often made
by Bijapur officers to attack it. Kudal was a Suba

1. PS 1163, Khand 18, No. 13. July 1667.

2. P1 160, dated 5 July 1667.

CONCILIATION AND CONSOLIDATION 199

under Shivaji in September. 1 Next was Vengurla
Desh mentioned in a Dutch letter dated 25th Septem-
ber 1667. 2 Next was Dabhol Suba with Sringarpur
and Devrukh. Above the Ghats Shiva ji had the terri-
tory to the south of the Nira. Krishnaji Bhaskar is
mentioned as Subedar over Rohid Khore. 3 Wai and
Karhad were, however, under Bijapur, 4 but Masur,
which was Shahaji's jagir, appears to be under
Shivaji 5 . In the Konkan territory, Bijapur officers
now and then made incursions. Immediately
after his return, Shivaji had thus to attack two
such officers, namely Pirmiya and Tajkhan, who
were in Devrukh in the Dabhol Suba and
they were driven away and an elephant was
captured. The entry in J of this event can be
interpreted in this way only, though we have no
other supporting document- In May 166S Bahilol-
khan and Ekojiraje, step-brother of Shivaji himself,
surrounded the fort of Rangana which was in
Shivaji's possession and Shivaji with his usual
suddenness attacked and drove away the besiegers
( J ). The Bijapur authorities eventually saw the
futility of fighting with Shivaji and in Bhadrapad
( September ), a peace was concluded between

1. PS 1135 of 1666. 2. PS 1170.

3. PS 1 172, dated 27th October 1667.

4. PS 1 167, 68, 69, dated September 1667.

5. PS 1 209, dated 23rd April 1 668.

200 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWARAJ

Shivaji and Adilshah by which Shivaji promised
to pay a yearly sum to Bijapur by way of tribute
for South Konkan. 1 About this time, Bijapur also
concluded a peace. with Aurangjeb directly at Agra
through Shah Abdul Hussein, ceding the fort of
Sholapur with ad joining territory yielding 1,80,000
hons. 2 Thus there was peace in Maharashtra for a
time and the three powers, Bijapur, Delhi and
Rajgad, were friendly.

Shivaji was also at peace with the three European
powers on the sea-coast, though the English still conti-
nued unfriendly ; PS 1214, 14th August 1668 (Forrest), and
PS 1216, Surat letter dated 25th August 1668, directing
seizure of the ships of Shivaji in the many ports between
Surat and Goa belonging to him, may be referred to. There
was some disagreement between Shivaji and the Portu-
guese of Goa for a time, as the latter gave shelter to Lakh am
Sawant who had again rebelled against Shivaji and Shivaji
consequently harried Bardesh with lire and sword, as many
letters tell us; see PS 1221 dated 7th October 1668, which
is a Dutch letter and which also states that Shivaji was
the Subedar of the coast-territory and that the Dutch
had, therefore, to pay tribute to him. This must have hap-
pened at the end of 1667, as PS 1 192, dated 22nd January
1668, also refers to Shivaji's invasion of Bardesh. But
the Portuguese remained friendly with Shivaji and on
his remonstrating, drove out the Sawant from their terri-
tory (PS 1 194, Portuguese letter dated 16th February 1668,

1. PS 1221, Dutch letter dated 8th Oct. 1668.

2. Duff and PS 1219, Karwar letter dated September 16.

CONCILIATION AND CONSOLIDATION 201

Pisurlekar ) and the Sawant again acknowledged allegi-
ance to Shiva ji.

Shivaji devoted this leisure time in his other*
wise intensely active career to the consolidation
of his kingdom. A short note in J refers to this
fact in the sentence : " The same year the territory
was divided. " !ta spft gs^t 321! %eft ( Chaitra
S'. 1 589 or April 1668). Shivaji probably made new
divisions of his state and made arrangements for
the extension of cultivation. The cultivation of land
had been much neglected owing to people being con-
stantly harassed by Mogul and Adilshahi armies
during the last several years. Moropant Peshwa thus
in this year made arrangement for the cultivation
of land in the Shirval Pargana 1 . We have already
described the military system of Shivaji consisting
of forts, infantry and cavalry. The forts were hill f
ground and sea; infantry consisted of Mawalas and
Hetkaris or of men on the Ghat and in the Konkan
and cavalry consisted of Paga and Shiledari. We
have also described the revenue system of Shivaji.
The existing hereditary officials, Patels and Kul-
karnis and Deshmukhs and Deshpandes, were not
disturbed, but the actual collection of revenue was in
the hands of the Karkuns, Taraf dars and Subedars.
As in the military, so in the civil, the Marathas, the
Brahmins and the Prabhus were given different
1. PS 1197 of 1667.

202 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

employments, thus co-ordinating all the higher
classes in administration.* For the whole state he
appointed new officers besides the old Peshwa
and Mujumdar. Surnis was the superintendent of
correspondence, the despatcher of orders, sanads
etc. He examined all documents issued and mark-
ed on them Surushud ( issued, from the Persian
word suru meaning 'begun'). The first Surnis ap-
pointed was Annaji Datto ( Duff ). Waknis or the
recorder of events (*waka f - Persian-meaning event )
kept the private records, journals etc. of the kingr
and the first Waknis was Dattajipant. Dabir was
the foreign minister, a new office; so also was
Nyayadhisha or Chief Judge. With the extension
of dominion, a high judicial official was a necessity
and the first Chief Judge was, as already noted,
Niraji, who had accompanied Shivaji on his
incognito travel. Upto this time, judicial cases came

* We may note how the various officers connected
with a fort belonge to different castes. Besides the garri-
son, there were several hereditary officers on every fort
called Gadkaris who always resided therein and badlands
assigned to them near it. These were Brahmins, Prabhus,
Marat has, Ramoshis, Mahars and Manga. The last three
were employed on outpost duties, watched the paths,
brought intelligence, misled enquirers and in war time cut
off enemy's stragglers. "This establishment while new was
admirably suited to the genius of the people and also served
in providing for old and meritorious soldiers." Duff.

CONCILIATION AND CONSOLIDATION 203

before Shiva ji himself and in his absence before his
mother who, like all Maratha ladies, took a share
in the administration intelligently 1 . Lastly, an
officer was needed for the proper performance
of religious duties pertaining to the king. AH these
officers, except the last two, had to perform mili-
tary duty often and they appointed their lieutenants,
called Mutaliks ( from taaluk-Persian-connection),
There were other officers also such as Sabnis (from
saff-line ) who kept registers of the number of men
in the army and other departments, Phadnis ( from
f ard-a list ) who assisted the Mujumdar or account-
ant, Karkhannis who kept all articles and Chitnis
( from chithi-a letter ) or writer of letters ; also
Potnis ( phote-meaning purse ) cash-keeper. Balaji
Avaji was the first Chitnis of Shivaji himself and
he served him loyally throughout his life.
1. PS 1206, dated 6 April 1668 and PS 1234.

XXVII. THE ASTONISHING ESCALADE
OF SINHGAD

From April 1667, when peace was concluded
with Aurangjeb, Shivaji practically remained in-
active for two years and more. He no doubt led
a sudden raid against Bahilolkhan at Rangana in
May 1667, but that was followed by peace with
Adilshah in September. He also invaded Bar*
desh in November 1667, but this was also followed
by peace with the Portuguese 1 . ( This raid is re-
ferred to in a Bombay letter 2 dated 2nd April
1668, as these letters many times mention events
long passed by ). He made a tour of his forts in
Konkan and strengthened them with provisions etc.
in November 1668 and went as far as Rajapur 3
(Karwar letter dated 12th November 1668) and it
was thought that he would attack Goa with the help
of a navy of the Arabs of Maskat 4 . But Shivaji did
not intend to fight with Goa and returned about the
end of December, as noted in Karwar letter 5 dated

1. PS 1 184, dated 26th November 1667, Pisurlekar.

2. PS 1206; ER 142, p. 122.

3. PS 1228 ;ER 152, p. 126 and PS 1231.

4. PS 1230; ER 155, p. 128.

5. PS 123;ER156, p. 128.

THE ASTONISHING ESCALADE OF 8INHGAD 205

1 6th December. This inactivity of Shivaji even led
to the belief that he would now sink into insignifi-
cance. The English at Karwar and also at Surat
thought so (see Karwar letter dated 9th March 1 669), 1
as he did not issue out as usual after the rains that
year. Indeed, he was at this time actually a feuda-
tory of Aurangjeb, holding his territory under him
and keeping an army at Aurangabad for service
under the Mogul governor. Prataprao Gujar was
therewith 5,000 horse as also Niraji, as stated in a
note dated August 5th, 1668 in J. Even in Kalyan
which Shivaji possessed, as is proved by an order
dated 25th January 1669 2 , issued by Shivaji regard-
ing the Deshpandes of Kalyan to the officers of Tal
Konkan and Mamie Kalyan, there was a Mogul
Subedar, as we find from a Bombay letter 3 referring
to the efforts of the English to obtain the port of
Pen in the territory of Shivaji, from Muajjam through
Abdullakhan, Subedar of Kalyan and Bhivandi, as
"Shivaji was a vassal of Aurangjeb." Shivaji also
got the title of Raja from Aurangjeb in March 1668,
( see his farman dated 9th March 1668) 4 . This title
was not really wanted, for Shivaji was de facto
king already and was styled so in the Portuguese
treaty referred to above, dated 26th November
1667. 5 Raje was a title taken by leading Maratha

1. PS 1242; ER 160, p. 129. 2. PS 1238.

3. ER 147, p. 124. 4. PS 1200. 5. PS 1148.

206 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

families no doubt (Shaba ji Ra je, Shivaji Ra je, etc.);
but Ra je prefixed would show that Ra je was a title
bestowed upon one or taken by one.

J mentions that "Aurangjeb destroyed the tem-
ple of Vishvanath at Benares in August 1669, and
that in December the peace between the Moguls
and Shivaji was at an end, and "Prataprao who was
at Aurangabad with the Shahjada, returned to
Ra jgad with his army ". Why the peace ended and
who ended it, is related in Sabhasad as follows :
44 Aurangjeb secretly ordered Prince Muajjam to
arrest Prataprao and Niraji and to take
possession of the horses of their cavalry, for the
state. The Prince, however, was on good terms
with Shivaji and clandestinely intimated to Pra-
taprao that he should leave Aurangabad before
the imperial order arrived. " There is no contem-
porary record to support this statement of Sabhasad.
But his account may be believed, inasmuch as
the motive with which Aurangjeb had generously
treated Shivaji upto this time was probably to
inveigle him again into his clutches; and finding
no opportunity, he attempted to destroy his power
by imprisoning his commander- in- chief and acquir-
ing his cavalry horses without any effort. Shivaji
who, on his own side, had accepted the policy of
conciliating Aurangjeb with the motive of gaining
strength during the respite, succeeded in his game

THE ASTONISHING ESCALADE OF 8INHGAD 207

while Aurangjeb failed in his, because Shivaji's
officers were trustworthy and loyal and Aurang jeb's,
venal and untrustworthy, the usual cause of a
nation's weakness.

It further seems to us that there is a connection
between Aurangjeb's outburst of fanaticism at this
time and the end of the peace between Shivaji and
the Moguls. Shivaji must have felt deeply, as a
devout Hindu, the affront given to the whole Hindu
nation in the destruction of the Benares temple.
As he had, from the first, stood forth as the
champion of the Hindus, he could not have now
remained at peace with Aurangjeb. This also
seems probable from an English letter from
Bombay, dated 23rd January 1&70 1 ( Garry to Lord
Arlington), "The arch rebel Shivaji is again
engaged in arms against Aurangjeb who out of
blind zeal for reformation hath demolished many
of- the Gentu temples and forced many to turn
Mussalmuns." We also find from a Surat letter 2 ,
dated 22nd January 1 668, that Aurangjeb's fanati-
cism, perhaps designed to dazzle Mahomedan
orthodoxy, had become intolerable to the Hindus
even in that part. ** The emperor has importuned
his officers to throw down the temples and build
mosques on their sites as also to forcibly convert
Hindus.** It is probable that orders were received

1. ER 178. p. 140. 2. PS 1 192 ; ER 139 f p. 120.

208 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARA.THA SWARAJ

in the Subas of Aurangabad and Surat and the
people about Surat and Junnar might have become
alarmed. Shivaji, therefore, must have resolved
to declare war against the Moguls in order to re-
lieve Hindus from religious oppression. The Portu-
guese also ( though alone of all Western peoples
who had come to India ) often resorted to religious
oppression through fanaticism, like Aurangjeb, and
we find from a Goa letter 1 , dated 30th November
1667, that the then Governor of Goa had ordered
the expulsion of inhabitants who did not belong to
the Roman Catholic faith and that four Padres had
even advised that the Hindus should be massacred.
Shivaji in his invasion of Bardesh caught hold of
these Padres and on their refusing to become
Hindus executed them. The Governor of Goa 2
thereupon found it necessary to cancel his order.
It is possible, therefore, that Shivaji may have
himself declared war against the Moguls from a
religious motive. Whatever may have been the
cause, the state of peace between the Moguls and
the Marathas came to an end in December 1668
with the return of Prataprao Gujar to Rajgad*

It was first necessary to drive away the
enemy from the forts of Sinhgad and Purandar
which kept Shivaji's original home, the Poona
district, under control. We will relate the story of

1. PS 1 1 86. 2. Ibid.

THE ASTONISHING ESCALADE OF SINHGAD 209

the wonderful escalade of Sinhgad by Tanaji
Malusare at this time, with the help of Sabha*
sad and various songs and Powadas which describe
this great event, as we have no contemporary
account to rely upon. The fort of Sinhgad could
be seen from Rajgad and Shivaji's heroic mother
asked him first to drive away the Moguls from
it, as the sight of the Ma home dans in possession
of it pained her. Tanaji Malusare assured her that
he would soon capture it on a dark night. On
Magh Vadya 9 Friday or 4th February 1670 ( J ),
Tanaji approached, at night-fall, the perpendi-
cular basalt rock on which the fort is built together
with its strong rampart, and two Mawalas escalad-
ed ( how, it is yet a mystery ) the rock and the
wall at a vulnerable point. Going to the top of the
wall they let down a rope-ladder and Tanaji and
300 Mawalas got on to the wall with its help.
The watchmen on the fort getting a clue raised an
alarm and Udebhan, a brave Rajput ( probably
kept there by Jaisingh ) f rushed to attack the Mawa-
las with his Rajput ^soldiers. A terrible hand-to-
hand fight took place in the light of torches and
500 Rajputs lay dead as also many Mawalas.
Tanaji and Udebhan in a duel killed each other.
The remaining Mawalas were on the point of run-
ning back when Suryaji, brother of Tanaji, who
had come up by this time with the help of the rope-
S. 14

210 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ladder with more Mawalas, stopped them and led
them back to a fresh attack and finally to victory. The
fort was taken ; and the Rajputs and Mahomedans
who had concealed themselves were taken prison-
ers, while those who attempted to escape by jump-
ing over the wall were mostly killed. A thatched
horse-shed was set fire to as a signal and Shivaji
saw it and knew to his intense joy that the fort had
been taken. The intense joy soon changed into
intense grief when he knew that Tana ji, his loyal
friend and follower through life, had fallen. <l A gad
is taken/* he exclaimed, '* but a gad is lost for ever. "
It is impossible to conceive how the two
Mawalas "like monkeys" got up to the top of the
rampart with the aid of their hands only ( Sabha-
sad). Later accounts state that Tana ji had a ghorpad
(iguana) which, as is her wont, mounted to the top
and stuck there while the Mawalas with the help
of a rope fastened to her tail climbed up. This is
also not quite believable, though less unbelievable
than the above version. The place where Tanaji
and his Mawalas climbed the rock is still shown
on the Sinhgad fort and it seems to us that at that
spot the rock is not quite perpendicular owing to
a water fissure and is climbable by those who are
accustomed to climb steep mountains. The two
Mawalas probably knew this weak point in their
constant rambles about the fort and took advan-

THE ASTONISHING ESCALADE OF SJNHGAD 21 \

tage of it. They might even have tried it in sport
in their boyhood. The defect has subsequently
been removed by a second rampart.

J records that Nilopant Mujumdar took the
fort of Purandar about a month after on Phalgun
Vadya Dvadashi, a date proved by a sanad of
Shiva ji 1 . In the assault Yeso Narayan Narhekar
fell. Both these were Brahmins. The other forts
also were taken one by one by other officers such
as Moropant Peshwa, Annaji Dabir etc. with the
help of Mawalas.

Shivaji got back the forts in Konkan also, as Bombay
letter, dated 30th March 1670, speaks of Shivaji as being in
possession of the territory about Bombay having "recovered
from the Mogul many of his castles on the Maine opposite
to us. " ( PS 1 294; ER 184, p. 144 ). Surat letter of the
same date ( PS 1295; ER 185, p. 144 ) speaks of Shivaji
being in command of 30,000 men and moving about, *' not
like a thief but like a king. " He was in possession of
Kalyan and Bhivandi, which was preferable to their be-
ing in the hands of the Moors. The English had now a
favourable opinion about Shivaji's rule. PS 1313, Bombay
letter dated 1 1th June 1670, shows that Shivaji attacked the
fort of Mahuli but was yet unable to take it. He, however,
took it before June 28 as Bombay letter of that date speaks
of his having taken Mahuli ( PS 1314; ER 199, p. 157 ).

*' Shivaji began his rule again after taking the
iorts ceded at the time of peace." Sabhasad thus
curtly records the change. Indeed, it was impos*

I. PS 1303.

212 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

sible that Shivaji could remain long a feudatory of
Aurangjeb and be another Jaisingh or Jaswantsingh
to be employed anywhere by the emperor for his
own purposes. Shivaji's good fortune was further
shown at this time by the birth of his second son
Rajaram on Phalgun S'uddha 1 5 at Rajgad (J),
after the recapture of Sinhgad and before that of
Purandar. This son was destined to fight finally
to the finish the war with Aurangjeb and after
a long struggle, the most glorious in Indian history,
to achieve the independence of the Marathas estab-
lishing the maxim of politics that the greatest
power even cannot subdue a nation unitedly striv-
ing to assert its independence.

Shivaji, however, again failed against the Siddi
of Janjira. He entered his territory Danda Raj-
puri but could make no impression, as the English
assisting the Siddi at this juncture gave protection
to its people at Bombay. 1 Shivaji carried on the
operations even in the rains and tried sama or con-
ciliation even, as a Karwar letter dated 20 August 2
shows. But the Siddi rejected such offer. Duff
records that there was a revolution in Janjira, the
Siddi was wavering and was, therefore,set aside and
Siddi Sumbol became the chief. He, through the
governor of Surat, offered allegiance to Aurangjeb
who accepted it and conferred upon him the title
of Yakubkhan.
1. PS 1257 ; ER 166, p. 132, 9th June 1669. 2. PS 1327.

XXVIII. SECOND SACK OF SURAT

Having decided upon an aggressive war against
the Moguls, Shivaji first provided for the safety
of his state and made a new arrangement with
regard to his chief ministers which is metioned
in an important document 1 , dated August 1670,
published in Rajwade Khand 8 f No. 10. These
ministers often performed military duties up to
this time. Shivaji asked Nilopant Mujumdar to
remain henceforth at home and transact all busi-
ness regarding the state, while the Peshwa Moro-
pant would go on military duty. Shivaji offered
Nilopant two per cent on all money spent on build-
ings etc., but he loyally declined this percentage and
asked for only ^ths of such honorarium as would
be paid to the Peshwa. This Shivaji gladly accept-
ed and gave him his word in a regular order.
Nilopant asked also for power to take to task such
subordinates as would act wrongly. This was
also given. Nilopant further asked for non-inter-
ference from Annaji Datto, the Surnis, which was
also guaranteed by Shivaji who thus showed his
implicit trust in the trustworthy Mujumdar, as he
was fit for the work assigned to him. Shivaji was
1. PS 1339.

214 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWARAJ

thus able to enter upon the war with a free heart
together with Moropant Peshwa.

Shiva ji also at this time entertained, as Sabha-
sad mentions, a force of bodyguards for himself
consisting of 2,000select Mawalas, some armed with
guns, some with swords, some with other weapons,
all having the same dress and gold ear-rings.
This force, like the bodyguard of Mahmud of
Ghazni, was of great use when there was fierce
fighting to do. The expenditure on his army, thus
increased, could be met only from plunder and
Shiva ji soon entered upon a career of plunder
more extensive than he had hitherto pursued.

Shivaji first suddenly carried a raid into
Mogul Deccan territory and plundered Junnar,
Ahmednagar and Parenda, as is reported in a
Persian letter 1 , dated 8th May 1670. He advanced
even as far as Aurangabad as noted in a Surat
letter, dated 2nd April 1670% and people thought
that he would go to Surat 3 , and the English
at Surat entertained a Lashkar and called for
a small force from Bombay for their protection.
But Shivaji plundered Chandwad only and
defeated a Mogul force in Tal Konkan, as stated in
a Persian letter dated 7th April 1670 4 . The Moguls

1. PS 1309. 2. PS 1297; ER 187, P< 145.

3- PS 1291; ER 180, p. 141, dated 12th March 1670.
4. PS 1298.

SECOND SACK OF SUBAT 215

collected a strong army near Junnar with the
design of advancing against Kalyan and Bhivandi
and other Konkan territory of Shivaji ; but as re-
ported in a Bombay letter, dated 1 1th June 1670 1 ,
the Mogul force was not mobile and was usually
idle. It took quarters for the rains below a hill
near Junnar. " But Shivaji did not allow grass
to grow under his feet. " " He moved about even
in the rains and took Lohgad and other forts and
advanced upon Mahuli " which he took before
the end of June as already stated. Having taken
these forts, his way to Surat was now safe and
clear and the people of Surat were so terrified
that money became "scarce in Surat M f as noted in
a Bombay letter dated July 5th 2 . But Shivaji did
not go to Surat and plundered Junnar instead in
Bhadrapad or August (J). Shiva ji's movements
were always unexpected and sudden and his spy-
ing system was also perfect. In the beginning of
October, his spies reported that Surat was full and
unprepared and Shivaji suddenly appeared before
Surat on 3rd October 1670.

Surat, having many a time failed in its expec-
tation of Shivaji's coming, was not ready. The
Subedar of Surat had died a month before and a
protecting force which had been thrown therein in
expectation of Shivaji had left ( Duff ). A new
L PS 131 J; ER 193, p. 150. 2. PS 1315.

216 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

governor had come as stated in a Surat letter, dated
12th September 1 . There was a mud- wall around
the city which Shivaji easily took and Shivaji
plundered the town for two days. The first day,
being Diwali day, Kartik S'udha 1st, as stated in J,
the merchants must have taken out their valuable
property. The English and the Dutch were not in-
terfered with as before. The French who were on
friendly terms with Shivaji allowed the Marathas
to attack a Turkish prince put up in a serai. The
prince had just returned from pilgrimage and had
very valuable property with him ( Duff ). This
is supported by an English letter from Surat, dated
20th November 2 , which states that Shivaji got into
the Tartar serai and seized much gold and silver,
and a golden bed. This letter also mentions that
Shivaji expressed friendship for the English and
even invited them to settle in Rajapur again.
They gave him a small tribute. He left a letter
to the citizens on the third day to pay him a yearly
tribute of twelve lakhs of rupees, if they desired
exemption from future pillage. A Dutch letter,
dated 4th November 3 , gives the same account and
shows that Shivaji observed strictly his promise to
the French ( as well as the Dutch ) who were
friendly to him not to molest them. It is express-

1. PS 1332. 2. PS 1357 ; ER 237, p. 175.

3. PS 1356.

SECOND SACK SUBAT 217

ly stated in Subhasad that the plunder consisted of
gold, silver, jewels, etc. but not of cloth or copper
and other things difficult to be removed and it was
valued at 5 crores of rupees. The plunder was
put into purses and placed on horses of half the
cavalry men ; and Shiva ji himself escorted it
towards Rajgad (S).

Surat was plundered for two days only and
not three or six, as is stated in some later accounts.
The first was 3rd October (PS 1 330 dated Swali near
Surat the same day ) and Shiva ji did not come on
the 4th, but he suddenly came on the 5th and as
suddenly went away on the 6th October. Probably
he received news that a Mogul force was coming
upon him. He stayed at Peinth for six days while
he sent away the plunder to Rajgad and remained
to meet the expected Mogul force. It was hence
even thought at Surat that Shivaji would come

once more, 1

The prince Muaj jam apparently remained in-
active. Probably he had not sufficient force. It
was also rumoured that he was preparing for war
with Aurangjeb ; but he asked the English to assist
him against Shivaji* 2 They, however, declined, de-
ciding to remain neutral for fear of attack by
Shivaji. The reinforcements which Aurangjeb

1. PS 1342 ; ER 222, p. 16, Sawali letter dated 12 October.

2. P 1325, Surat letter 16 August 1670; ER 210, p. 158.

218 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

sent had not yet arrived. It was also expected
that the prince with the help of Shivaji would
rebel against his father, as Aurangjeb had rebelled
against his. Surat letter, dated August 18th 1 , as
also Bombay letter of 5th September 2 , again speak
of this rumour. This letter also mentions that
Shivaji could get lead and cannon from the French
at Raja pur.

Whatever the attitude of the prince, a Mogul
force under Daudkhan* from Burhanpur marched
against Shivaji and overtook him near Dindori.
Shivaji gave him battle and defeated him, captur-
ing an elephant, on Kartik S' 14 or 17th October
1670 (J). Thus the plunder safely reached Raj-
gad though Shivaji remained at Kunjargad (J) f
probably, in Nasik District. It is difficult to
understand the military movement detailed by
Duff who says that a detachment of the Mogul
force arrived between Shivaji and Nasik and
Shivaji divided his army into four parts and
gave battle to both the forces. There is no men-
tion of this in contemporary letters so far as we
have seen.

We must bear in mind the position of the
country in order to understand Shiva ji's movements

1. PS 1326. 2. PS 1630; ER 2 1 3, p. 160.

* Daudkhan appears to be the governor of Burhanpur
(PS 1378 Bombay letter 6th February 1671 ER 256 p. 189).

SECOND SACK OF SURAT 219

at this time- Shivaji had gone to Surat from
Kalyan through the Konkan, but he returned via
Peinth and not Baglan which is a patch of fertile
country, consisting of the present Kolvan and
Satana Talukas, between Surat and the Desh.
Tavernier mentions that the latter was the route by
which the great stream of traffic between Surat
and Govalkonda passed (Nasik Gazetteer ). In this
route there are no intervening high ranges of moun-
tains ; but Shivaji did not take this route and went
from Peinth to Dindori through a mountain pass
and thence southwards towards Nasik and Poona.
Shivaji usually took the unexpected path and thus
discomfited his enemies.

XXIX. SIGNAL MOGUL DEFEAT
NEAR SALER

Taking advantage of the defeat of Daudkhan
and the delay in the arrival of Mahabatkhan sent
by Aurangjeb, Shivaji conquered important forts
in the present Nasik District adjoining his state.
Though he failed in taking Shivneri near Junnar,
Moropant Peshwa took the fort of Trimbak in
Kartik Vadya ( November 1670 ), a few days after
Daudkhan 's defeat ( J ). In Margashirsha ( Decem-
ber ), Shivaji went on a plundering expedition but
first secured his rear by taking the forts of Ahivant
and Rawla-Jawla in the Chandor range which
commanded the route through Baglan. He then
plundered the country as far as Burhanpur and
sacked Karanja, the richest town in Berar next to
Amraoti. Moropant Peshwa took the fort of
Saler to the north of Baglan which was the strong-
est and the highest fort in that quarter ( 5295 ft,
Nasik Gazetteer, page 441 ).* It had been taken
by the Moguls from the Baguls of Baglan as

* J records that Moropant took the fort of Saler by
bheda or treachery in January 1671. It appears from
PS* 1378, that Daudkhan who was near Saler had left for
Burhanpur at this time and thus the Marathas could easily
take the fort.

SIGNAL MOGUL DEFEAT NEAR 8ALER 221

stated in Parnalakhyana which is a contemporary
poem written by Jayarama and which will be
referred to now and then hereafter. Aurangjeb
was so perturbed with the news of the loss of
Saler fort that he at once ordered Ikhlaskhan and
Bahilolkhan ( ? ), probably then in Gujerat, to take
back that fort at once and Dilerkhan of Malwa
to go against Ahivant and Rawla-Jawla. Dilerkhan
could not however, take these forts as Moropant
sent 12,000 Mawalas to attack the besiegers* There
was here a severe hand-to-hand fight in which the
Moguls were worsted.

Mahabatkhan arrived at Aurangabad about
February, 1671 ( Bombay letter 1 dated 6th Febru-
ary ) and proceeded to the scene of conflict, leaving
only 500 horse with Prince Muajjam 2 . He was
apparently invested with the chief authority in the
Deccan. Bahadurkhan and Dilerkhan who were de-
puted also by Aurangjeb against Shiva ji joined
him and Dilerkhan was entrusted with the admi-
nistration of the whole District except Surat city.
Mahabatkhan first went towards Nasik 3 and took
back the forts of Ahivant and Rawla-Jawala as also
that of Markund (J). Bombay letter, dated 29th May,
states that he had taken 5 forts 4 . The fort of Saler

1. PS 1 378 ; ER 256. p. 181.

2. PS !395;ER262,p. 191.

3. P 1930, Bombay letter dated 8th April 167K

4. PS 1395.

222 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

was invested in Vaishakh (May 1671) by Dilerkhan
and Bahadurkhan ( J )- The siege continued for
many months through the rainy season ; but in the
month of Magha or February 1672 Moropant and
Prataprao were sent by Shivaji against the be-
siegers. A tough battle was fought near Saler
between the Marathas and the Moguls, a graphic
account of which is given in the Bakhars, summar-
ized by Duff as follows: " For the relief of Saler,
Moropant and Prataprao were detached by
Shivaji with 20 thousand horse and were ordered
to give battle. As soon as the Mogul general
( Mahabatkhan ) heard of their approach, he sent
the greater part of his force under Ikhlaskhan
against them. Prataprao, seeing Ikhlaskhan eager
to attack him, fled before him until the Mogul
troops were broken in order and then turning
round, supported by Moropant, he gave them a
signal defeat. The Moguls no doubt recovered
their order and fought to the last ; but they were
charged, broken and routed with prodigious
slaughter. 22 officers of note were killed and
several of thfc principal commanders wounded and
taken prisoners. The Marathas lost Suryarao
Kakde, a commander of five thousand horse, and
had also upwards of 500 killed and wounded. "
We have ho contemporary evidence regarding the
details of this tattle, but there is no doubt of the

SIGNAL MOGUL DEFEAT NEAR SALER

223

fact that the Moguls were signally defeated at Saler
and they withdrew towards Aurangabad, inasmuch
as Surat letter, dated 6th April 1672, speaks of the
' notable ' defeat of the Moguls who were investing
a fort and of their two generals who had entered
Shivaji's territory retreating with shame and loss. 1

Duff properly observes that the victory " was
the most complete one achieved by Shivaji's troops
in a fair fought action " with the Moguls and contri-
buted greatly to the renown of the Marathas ; for a
Surat letter, dated Nth June 2 , speaks of Shivaji's
" recent signal success near a fort which has raised
him to high dignity in the eyes of the world. "

Some further facts in connection with these
events are given in J. It first states that Bahadur-
khan and Dilerkhan who had besieged Saler in
June raised the siege in As'vin ( September ) and
went to Aurangabad where they kept their force.
This action is inexplicable, they having passed
the rains at Saler. Whatever the reason, they seem
to have left a sufficient force on the machi of
Saler ( lower ground ); for J records
on the machi was attacked and
Moropant in Magh ( February
after the success in the battle dej
thirdly adds that Prataprao and

1. PS 1463; ER 300, p. 217.
Z. 1472 Oronemsa 114.

224 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

battle took Bahilolkhan* prisoner as also Moho-
kumsingh and Darkoji Bhosalc. Eleven elephants
and 1700 horses were seized. Sabhasad states that
these prisoners were sent back to the Moguls after
their wounds had been attended to, and they were
duly honoured, as was the usual humane and
masterful manner of Shivaji, which advanced his
cause and also increased his fame.

Moropant followed up his success by taking
Jawhar in Jyeshtha and Ramnagar in Ashadha
in the Konkan ( J ). This is mentioned also in a
Surat letter, dated 21st June 1672 1 , and a
treasure of 17 lakhs of rupees was seized at
Jawhar 2 . Its chief was the Koli Vikramshah who
was a tributary of the Moguls. Surat was again
afraid and the gates were closed. But Shivaji simply
sent a letter demanding Chauth from Surat and
saying, " Your emperor has compelled me to keep
an army for the protection of my country and my
people and you must make a contribution for the
maintenance of that army."

Thus by the end of June 1672, Shivaji was
successful in his war against the Moguls and was
also master of almost the whole of the Nasik
District including Baglan and of the corresponding
*This Bahilolkhan seems, from the Parnalakhyana,
to be a brother of the Bijapur Bahilol*

1. PS 1474 ; ER 308, p. 220. 2. ER 310, p. 221.

SIGNAL MOGUL DEFEAT NEAR SALER 225

portion of the Konkan including Jawhar and
Ramnagar.

It is said that Shivaji went hereafter to Bhaga-
nagar ( Duff ). As the usual route from Surat to
Govalkonda lay through Baglan, this is possible.
But J records that Shivaji sent Nirajipant to
Govalkonda and settled a tribute of one lakh of
hons from that state* Niraji brought to Rajgad
66 thousand hons at this time (J). Sultan Abdulla
Kutubshah had died in Jyeshtha ( June 1672 ) and
his son-in-law Tanashah had succeeded to the
throne, taking the name of Abdul Hasan. A new
treaty for tribute was hence necessary.

S. 15

XXX. WAR WITH BIJAPUR

During these operations, fortunately (or Shiva ji,
Bijapur was at peace with him. His power was
acknowledged by all the southern states. As men-
tioned already, Abdul Muhammad, chief minister of
Bijapur, paid tribute or Chauth to Shivaji in order
to induce him to abstain from plundering Bijapur
territory. Jayarama, in his Parnalakhyana, states
that even Kutubshah of Govalkonda paid tribute,
as also the Portuguese and the Siddi of Janjira
for similar safety (Parna.2, 13). Aurangjeb advised
his defeated generals to unite with Bijapur and
Govalkonda and make a combined attack on
Shivaji. This advice succeeded, because there was
a change of masters and ministers at Bijapur. Ali
Adilshah died about this time (24th November 1672)
and his five years old son Sikandar was placed on
the throne. Abdul Muhammad, the chief minister,
who had maintained friendly relations with Shivaji,
lost power and Khavaskhan, an Abyssinian, ac-
quired ascendancy again. He was inimical to
Shivaji and resumed hostilities. Shivaji thereupon
called back his vakil Babaji Naik Punde from
Bijapur. J records shortly that " Ali Adilshah
died in Margashirsha S'. 1594 and Khavaskhan be-

WAR WITH BIJAPUB 227

coming Karbhari, the peace between Adilshah and
Shiva ji came to an end and Babaji Naik returned
from Bijapur." Shivaji at once took the offensive
and immediately sent Anandrao on a plundering
expedition both in the Mogul and Bijapur terri-
tories and asked him to take the country from Wai
to Lakshmeshwar. It was necessary for this
purpose to seize the fort of Panhala which was the
dominant fort adjacent to this territory and Shivaji
deputed Annaji Datto to take it. J records that
the fort was taken on Phalgun Vadya 1 3, ( 6th
March 1673 ) by ' bheda ' or seduction of officers
and through Kondaji Farjund assisted by Sathis
(infantry soldiers in companies of 60, from Shivaji's
bodyguard-Sabhasad ) The seizure of this fort
is the theme of the Parnalakhyana of Jayarama
which gives a florid account of the event, the
substance being as follows: " Shivaji sent Annaji
Pandit to take the fort and deputed also Kondaji,
Guna ji and Motyaji, (probably officers of the Sathis),
to assist him. After three days, Annaji advanced
from Rajapur with these officers, taking with him
rope* ladders, iguana and iron nails* Reaching in
pitch dark the bottom of the perpendicular rock on
which the fort stood and placing one man on the
shoulders of another, making a human ladder,
they succeeded in getting on to the top of the wall.
They then suddenly sounded war-drums and attack-

228 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ed the guardsmen who, roused from sleep, rushed
to the defence. The Mahomedan commander was
killed in a fight with Kondaji. Nagoji Pandit, the
officer who superintended the defence-guards
placed at night, fled ; and the fort with all its
palaces was taken. " There is no mention in this
account of 4 bheda * which the poet probably pur-
posely omits and hence the difficulty remains here,
as at the taking of Sinhgad, of explaining how the
Marathas got on to the fort. The bravery of
Kondaji, like that of Tana ji, and of the Sixties can-
not, of course, be underrated.

Shivaji came to the fort after three days on
9th March 1673 (Chaitra S'udha Pratipada, J), with
his ministers with great ceremony- His progress
from Raigad via Poladpur and Pratapgad is de-
scribed with poetical embellishments by Jayarama.
Shivaji was highly pleased on finding the fort well -
provisioned and well-armed with cannon etc. He
stayed there for about a month In the same Chaitra
or April 1673, J further records the defeat of Bahilol-
khan by Prataprao and Anandrao near Bijapur,
the details of which are given by Jayarama in his
poem as follows :

" Khavaskhan sent Bahilolkhan with a huge
army against Shivaji and many other officers such
as Siddi Masaud, Dilerkhan etc., ( named in
Parnalakhyana ) were asked to join him* A terrible

WAR WITH BIJAPUR 229

conflict took place at Umrani* near Tikota, by the
side of a tank where the Mahomedan army had
encamped and where Prataprao with his cavalry
attacked it. Siddi Hilal, Vithoji Sinde, Krishnaji
Bhaskar, Vithal Pildeo, Viso Ballal with their con-
tingents assisted Prataprao. Many imaginary in-
dividual fights are described in this battle by Jaya-
rama also and one incident is that of a mad elephant
of the enemy stampeding and doing havoc in its
own army. Eventually Bahilolkhan was defeated;
but he escaped " by a way shown by Prataprao
(with his connivance ?). " J records the above in-
cident in the short note, " An elephant was cap-
tured." Parnalakhyana describes the mad ele-
phant as being finally taken away by Sidhoji
Nimbalkar and presented to Shivaji " calm as a
Yogin." ( This poem ends here. It seems Jayarama
composed short poems on different incidents in
Shivaji's life, but we have got this poem alone of
all his compositions. )

Shivaji took advantage of this decisive victory
and on Chaitra Vadya 10 ( bth April 1673 ) he
took the fort of Parali (J). He also took Satara in
S'ravan (26th July 1673, J ) and thus extended
his dominion to the east of the Ghat-Matha over
the present Kolhapur and Satara territories. Hubli
was plundered by Prataprao ( Annaji Datto-Duff)
* Umrani is about 36 miles to the west of Bijapur.

230 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

about the middle of April, as also appears from a
Karwarl etter 1 , dated 16th April 1673, and from
a Kaulnama 2 , dated 27th April, of Athni speaking of
Shiva ji's raid on that side. The English sustained
loss in the plunder of Hubli for which they demanded
compensation from Shivaji. A list of things taken
(given at ER 346, ) shows that the loss was estimated
at 7894 hons. Shivaji's Vakil, however, denied that
his men had plundered the English.

Sabhasad states that at this time many more
forts such as Chandan Vandan and Nandgiri were
taken. Shivaji himself went from Raigad to see
these forts and he himself took the ground fort
(Kot) of Wai and of Karhad, Shirol and Kolhapur
and seized territory as far as Hukeri and Raibag.

Bijapur sent Sarjekhan again against the
Marathas after the rains and J records that Vithoji
Shinde fell in the battle fought with him in Kartik
( October 1673 ). This battle was followed by
another action in which another great soldier of
Shivaji viz. Prataprao Gujar fell. It was fought
on 24th February 1674. Prataprao had allowed
Bahilolkhan to escape in the battle of Umrani and
he came again with a sufficient force given by Kha-
vaskhan, whereupon Shivaji again sent Prataprao
against him. Sabhasad says that Shivaji sent him a
letter with instruction to fight to the bitter end, " as
1. PS 1524; ER 346, p. 24 1. 2. PS 1527.

WAR WITH BIJAPUR 231

Bahilolkhan came again and again/ 9 Prataprao did
fight to the bitter end and was killed in the battle.
The consequent imminent defeat was, however,
changed into a victory by Hansaji Mohite who,
rallying the Marathas, charged the enemy and
defeated him ( Duff ) The Mahomedan army thus
returned to Bijapur without achieving anything.

Shivaji during these years was often at war
with the Siddi of Janjira also. Securely ensconced
in an impregnable island-fort, the Siddi could
harass Shivaji's country by land and water. He
was also incited at this time by Aurangjeb whose
subordination and protection he had accepted, to
attack Shivaji and Aurangjeb also sent some
ships from Surat and Ghogha to assist him. These
ships wished to plunder Shivaji's territory near
Bombay, but they were not allowed to enter the
Bombay creek 1 . The English in Bombay assisted
Shivaji at this time, as they detained in Bombay
harbour six ships of Shivaji built in Kalyan creek
with his consent and gave out that they had de-
tained them for securing compensation demanded
from him regarding their plunder at Rajapur. 2

A naval indecisive action was, however, fought
between the Mogul navy and that of Shivaji near
Bombay, as reported in a letter from Bombay, dated

1. PS 1500, Bombay 31 Oct. 1672; ER 328. p. 230.

2. PS 1505, Dec. 1672; ER 333, p. 232.

232 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWAEAJ

9th November 1672. 1 Sabhasad, who cannot be re-
lied on for sequence of events, though he faithfully
relates all, twice mentions an unsuccessful war
with the Siddi. " The Siddi who kept a navy of
40 Gurabas ( ships ) began to harass the Raja's
country. Baji Phasalkar with 2,000 Mawalas was
sent against him by land and ships also were sent
by sea- ' The king saddled the sea with ships
as it were ' ; ( and it may be added also bridled
it by building forts on coast-islands). Kaya Savant
came to the help of the Siddi with 5 thousand
men and a tough battle was fought between him
and Baji Phasalkar, in which both the leaders
were killed. The two armies returned to their
respective places. " Shivaji thus lost the second
of the three great companions, who from boyhood
had stood by him through thick and thin. The
exact date of this action cannot be fixed. Shivaji,
however, fortified the hill of ' Henry Kenry ' in
the sea to enable him easily to attack the Siddi by
sea. Naquada Omed of Surat offered to prevent
this if Aurangjeb paid him one lakh and twenty
thousand rupees, as noted in a letter from Delhi of
an English artillery officer in Mogul service, dated
26th September 1672; 2 and Aurangjeb accepted
the proposal demanding security from him. Nothing
came out of this apparently; and Shivaji succeeded
in fortifying Khandcri, as we shall see later on.
1. PS 1501; ER 329, p. 230. 2. PS 1494; ER 321, p. 227.

XXXI. PREPARATION FOR CORONATION

The following dates and events, mostly taken
from J, will show us how Shiva ji had upto now
defeated and plundered the Moguls and the Adil-
shahis and extended his dominion during the two
years 1673 and 1674. In March or Chaitra
1673, Prataprao and Anandrao defeated Bahilol-
khan ( Abdul Karim-S ) at Umrani near Bijapur
and on 1st April ( Chaitra Vadya 10, Tuesday ) f
Shivaji took the fort of Parali ( J ). Other forts
like Chandan Vandan were also taken soon after
( S ). On 26th July ( S'ravan Vadya 9, Sunday X
the fort and town of Satara were taken. This is
supported by Bombay Consultation Record, dated
15th September, which states that Shivaji has
recently taken the central and important fort of
Satara and acquired immense booty, which was
safely removed on bullocks to Raigad 1 . Bijapur
sent Sarjekhan again and he fought a battle in
Kartik ( October ) with Vithoji Shinde but could
not do much though Vithoji fell in the battle ( J )-
It is probably this battle which is mentioned in a
Karwar letter, dated 17th December 2 . Shivaji on

1. PS 1563 ; ER 392, p. 283.

2. PS 1606; ER 431, p. 317.

234 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Vijayadashami or Dasara day ( 10th October 1673)
went against and plundered Bankapur, a town in
the present Dharwar district (J). A Bombay
letter, dated 15th December 1673, states that
Shivaji was away for the last three months,
plundering Bijapur Kannad territory 1 . Bahilol-
khan advanced from Bijapur and in the Karwar
letter above noted he is said to have defeated
Shivaji. But in the greater action which was
fought at Nivati(Nesari*-Sabhasad) on Magh Vadya
I4.or Shivratri day (24th February 1674), although
Prataprao fell, Bahilolkhan was defeated by
Hansaji Mohite as already described and pursued
back to Bijapur ( J and Duff ). Anandrao thereon
went and plundered Sampgaon Peth ( bazzar town)
in the present Belgaum district (on 73-3-74). Sabha-
sad relates, however, that it was Mohite who plun-
dered Sampgaon. He was opposed there by
Husseinkhan Pathan of Bijapur. "A fierce battle
was fought from noon to the next morning and
Husseinkhan was signally defeated. He was
taken prisoner and 4,000 horses and 12 elephants
were captured. Moropant Peshwa, thereafter,
carried an expedition as far as the Tungabhadra
and obtained surrender of the fort of Kopal
from Hussein's brother who was its Killedar,
and all the territory upto Kopal came into
1. PS 1604 ; ER 429, p. 314. * In Kolhapur State.

PREPARATION FOR CORONATION 235

Shivaji's possession* " J states that Anandrao
was intercepted by Khidarkhan, a Bijapur captain,
while returning from Sampgaon; but the latter
was defeated and two elephants were seized.
Probably, these two fights mentioned by Sabhasad
and J are one and the same. On the 24th of
April 1674, Shiva ji himself took Kelanja, a fort
near Wai ( J ) The Bijapur army thus was
helpless and could do nothing against Shivaji and
a large part of its territory was seized by him.

The Moguls also were powerless, though
Aurangjeb, recalling Mahabatkhan after his defeat
at Saler and also the prince ( who had left in
March or February 1672-J ), had sent a new
comjnander with 70,000 horse, and he was on the
border of Shivaji's country. 1 His name was Baha-
dur khan, also called Koka ( Sabhasad ), and he was
subsequently honoured by Aurangjeb with the title
of Khanjahan ( Duff ). Bahadurkhan did not think
it possible even with his large force to attack
Shivaji or to take his forts and adopted a defen-
sive policy in order to prevent the Marathas
from raiding and plundering Mogul territory.
But he failed even in this, as under his very eyes,
Maratha raiding parties did enter Mogul territory
and plundered and collected Chaath as far as
Khandesh, Berar and Jalna. Dilerkhan, his second

1. PS 1604.

236 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

in command, was for active fighting, and he {ought
a battle with the Marathas but was signally
defeated, as is reported in a Surat letter, dated 6th
February 1674. 1 Bahadurkhan advanced as far as
the Bhima, his boundary, 2 and there encamped,
building a fort to defend himself, at Pedgaon.
( This fort is called Bahadurgad ). He also was
thus helpless and remaining inactive could make
no impression on Shivaji.

Shivaji had thus defeated in pitched battles
the armies of the boastful Abyssinian of Bijapur
and the haughty Mogul of Delhi and had plundered
their territories with impunity, being the master of
a powerful force of cavalry and infantry which
now began to be feared for its hurricane;like
movements and * eagle-like swoops. * The English
at Surat thought that Shivaji would be squeezed
between the Mogul Bahadurkhan coming from
the north and the Adilshahi Bahilolkhan advanc-
ing from the south, as also the Siddi moving from
the west But Shivaji rose superior to all these
three, as was foreseen by the English at Bombay 3
in their letter of 15th September 1673. He had
also by this time acquired a large territory
which now extended on the Ghat-Matha from

1. PS 1615; ER 441, p. 321.

2. ER 447, p. 325 ; dated 19th March.

3. PS 1563;ER392,p.283.

PREPARATION FOR CORONATION 237

Baglan to Banda and along an east line in the
Deccan extending from Nasik in the north to Kopal
in the south. He had the Konkan from Bassein to
Goa and important ports on the west coast like
Ra japur, Vengurla, Dabhol,Chaul and Kalyan where
the English now thought it safe to open factories.

On 8th April 1674, Shiva ji called together
and reviewed his whole army at Chiplun (J) 1 , the
country above the Ghat being partially stricken
with famine ( Duff ), a famine felt even in Bombay,
as noted in the above noted letter. He appointed
Mohite as his commander-in-chief or Sarnobat,
Mohite having distinguished himself in the battle
of Umrani, as already stated. He honoured him with
the title of Hambirrao. Two other captains were
also promoted at this time, having distinguished
themselves in that battle, namely, Dhanaji Jadhav
and Santaji Ghorpade. These were destined
hereafter successfully to oppose Aurangjeb
when, after the death of Shivaji, he personally
came to the Deccan and with all the might of the
Mogul empire vainly tried to crush the independ-
ence of Maharashtra, defended as it was, under
Rajaram, by these two, then renowned veteran
leaders of Ma rath a forces.

Having thus made arrangements for the strength
and efficiency of his army, Shivaji also made
1. PS 1563.

238 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

arrangement lor the civil administration of his
large territory. Sabhasad relates that Shivaji
divided his territory into three parts and placed
them under three Sarkarkuns or commissioners*
The northern division from Kalyan-Bhivandi to
Saler, including Kolvan, was placed under Moro-
pant Peshwa and it included both Konkan and the
Ghat-Matha with its forts of Lohagad and Junnar.
The middle division consisting of Konkan alone
from Chaul, including Dabhol, Rajapur, Vengurla,
Banda and Kudal territory with its commanding
fort of Phonda, was entrusted to Annaji Datto- The
third division consisting of the territory in the Deccan
from Wai to Kopal was placed under Dattajipant
Waknis who was to reside in the fort of Panhala.
It was settled (Tah) that the forts in these divisions
would also be under the control of the Sar-
karkuns who were to appoint all officers except the
killedars. These last were to be appointed, after
personal inspection, by Shivaji himself, as the forts
were the most important places commanding the
districts and afforded shelter in times of invasion.
There were four or five Subedars also in the
Mogul country, presumably for realising tribute or
Chauth (Sabhasad).

The only enemy unsubdued and the only weak
spot left was the Siddi of Janjira. Sabhasad
speaks of a second campaign against him, as he,

PREPARATION FOR CORONATION 239

breaking the treaty concluded with him by Raghu-
nathpant, began to harass Shivaji's country near
him. Vyankoji Datto was sent by Shivaji on this
campaign against him and he defeated a Siddi force
in a tough fight, though himself receiving twelve
wounds. Duff speaks of Ragho Ballal being killed
in this or some other action. Shivaji took all the
plain territory belonging to the Siddi and confined
him to his sole island fort. He then could obtain
subsistence only from the coastal towns in his
ships. Siddi's men sometimes cut and took away
corn from fields in Shivaji's territory ; but they
were once seized by Shivaji's men and their
heads were cut off and sent to Shivaji 1 . Shivaji
for this purpose increased his navy also and the
navy now consisted of Gurabas, Tarandis, Tarve f
Shibade and Pagars. These several kinds of
ships were kept under two commanders or
Subedars, one Darya Sarang, a Mahomedan, and
the other Mayanak Bhandari (Sabhasad). Ships,
two hundred in number, were under each Subedar
and they also led plundering expeditions against
other coastal towns. ( The coastal powers were
seventeen in number, according to Sabhasad, in-
cluding the Moguls, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the
English and the Hindus). Though Shivaji could not
destroy or subdue the Siddi, even after spending
1. PS 1583.

240 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

immense treasure and sacrificing about 1 5,000 men
on Janjira, 1 he'succeeded at this time, with the help
of his strong navy, in confining him to his island
fort- He sought the help of the English, but they
remained neutral, 2 being afraid of incurring the
enmity either of Shivaji or of Aurangjeb.

Shivaji had thus at this time ( middle of
1674) realised the dream of his boyhood and
established a Hindu independent kingdom in the
western part of Maharashtra. He had a large
powerful army and also a navy which inspired
fear and ensured respect He had amassed
immense treasure by his plunders which were
always safely conveyed either to Rajgad or Raigad.
He was now a dc facto independent king, and not
a jagirdar as he was in the beginning, or a sub-
ordinate chief as he was before he went to Agra;
nor even a feudatory prince like Jaswantsingh or
Jaisingh to be employed by an emperor on his
own mission. Indeed, Shivaji as king hereafter sent
sub-ordinate chiefs and commanders on expedi-
tions,* he himself taking little part in actual fighting.

1. P 1523; ER 343, p. 240, Bombay letter dated 25th
March 1673.

2. PS 1530; ER351,p, 246, Bombay Consultation,
10th May 1673.

*The statements hereafter found that Shivaji did
tiiis thing or that have usually to be taken in the sense

( Continued on next page )

PREPARATION FOR CORONATION 241

Shivaji was, therefore, in every way fit to be
crowned as king and he resolved properly enough,
as the head of Hindavi swarajya, to have the re-
ligious ceremony of coronation (u^ifa^fa; ) perform-
ed to him according to Vedic rites, in order to im-
press his subjects with his new position as a
crowned king. For this purpose, he had no doubt
to spend an enormous amount of money ; but his
treasury was full. He had also built a palace
on Raigad fort with an assembly hall resembling
the Diwan-i-Am at Agra, a hall mentioned by
Niccolls in his diary 1 , dated 19th May to 17th
June 1674. We know that an assembly hall was
built for the Pandavas by Mayasura before they
performed the Rajasuya or coronation sacrifice.
But above all, he had to satisfy the qualms of those
too orthodox Brahmins of the Deccan who believed
that there were no Kshatriyas in the Kali age.
The descent of the Bhosales from the Sisodia kings
of Udaipur had always been accepted, as we have
already shown, and there was no necessity of

that Shivaji ordered those things to be done. Thus, though
Karwar letter, ER 365. p. 259. dated 14 June 1674. speaks
of Shivaji's plundering HubH, Niccpll's diary, ER 358.
p. 267 shows that it was not SMvaji himself who plundered
Hubli but his commander Anandrao and that Shivaji
knew nothing about the affair and was waiting for the
report of his commander about it.

1. ER 358, p. 252.

S. 16

242 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

concocting a new Kshatriya pedigree, as has been
supposed by some writers on the basis of later
Bakhars. But the Brahmins had to be satisfied
that a Vedic religious ceremony could be perform-
ed to the Maratha Shivaji. Fortunately Gagabhat,
a renowned Deccani Pandit of Benares, learned
both in Veda and Shastra, had come to see Shivaji
(S) or was invited to come and see Shivaji when the
former was at Paithan. The consent of this
Shastri was obtained and it was settled that
Shivaji should mount a specially constructed throne
and have an umbrella ( Chhatra ) held over him,
44 just as Mahomedan kings ascend a throne and
have an umbrella held over them " ( Sabhasad ).
Shivaji meant to make it known to the people
that he was a crowned king, as good as the Mogul
Padshah or the Bijapur Sultan. The common people
in India and in Maharashtra at that time believed
that there were only Mahomedan sovereigns in
their country, as the Mahomedan rule over N. India
had extended for the last 600 and over Deccan
300 years, and it was necessary to emphasize the
fact that Shivaji was now a sovereign, equal in
status with the Mogul emperor as well as the king
of Bijapur or of Portugal. And it was resolved in
March 1674 that Shivaji should perform the cere-
mony of coronation and assume the title of Chhatra -
pati with Vedic rites ; and due preparation, such as

PREPARATION FOR CORONATION 243

the construction of a golden throne etc., was made*
It is reported in Bombay letter 1 by Narayan Shenvi,
dated 4 April 1674, that " Shivaji is constructing a
magnificent throne with gold and diamonds. "

It seems that Shivaji had already begun to
style himself Maharaj and Chhatrapati, after his
return from Agra, in important state documents
like sanads given to feudatary chiefs* Thus, we
find that in a sanad issued to Pilaji Raje Ghatge,
Shivaji styles himself Maharaj and Chhatrapati,
see sanad, dated 26th January 1669 2 . It is
supposed that these words are put in by the
copyist in this document in the possession of the
Ghatges of Kagal; but this copy has been printed
in the volume of sanads issued by Government and
the words are in such a place that they cannot be
looked upon as put in subsequently. Again it was
intended in this sanad to emphasize Shivaji's high-
er position than that of the grantee who was also
styled Raje. This word 'Chhatrapati/ therefore,
we think, cannot be looked upon as subsequently
put in, though in ordinary orders issued by Shivaji
to his officers or village people, he simply styles
himself * Shivaji Raje.'*

* Its seems that this title was already intended to be
taken when Shivaji reserved the umbrella to himself and
directed his officers and chiefs not to take umbrellas, as in
Mahomedan states, but to take abdagir instead (S).

1. PS 1625; ER 45!, p. 327. 2. FS 1239.

XXXII THE IMPOSING CEREMONY

The gorgeous and imposing ceremony of
Shivaji's coronation took place on the spacious
fort of Raigad, in the presence of subordinate chiefs
and jagirdars, military captains and civil administra-
tors and thousands of happy villagers and village
officers. The top of the fort is extensive enough
to accommodate the vast concourse that had
gathered there and the tanks excavated on the top
contained water enough for their use. The main
ceremony took place on Jyeshtha S'uddha 12,
S'.1575 or 6th June 1674 ( J ). But it was preceded
by two important ceremonies. On 26th May, the
thread ceremony of Shivaji was performed, as
this ceremony was necessary to enable him to
be crowned with Vedic rites. The Marathas had
long given up ( probably since Buddhist days )
this ceremony of initiation of the Vedic Aryans
and it was hence that Brahmins in Maharashtra
looked upon Marathas as S'udras. But as they
were Kshatriyas by race and as they had restricted
marriages to themselves, they were only Vratya
Kahatriyas and Gagabhat rightly held that the
Upanayana ceremony, could be performed to
Shivaji, even at the age of 44, with the requisite

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ.

Tlirone Platform at Raigad.

To far? nasre 24

THE IMPOSING CEREMONY 245

expiatory ceremonies performed before the initia-
tion rite. That this controversy did take place at
that time is clear from the Dutch account of the
coronation, dated 3rd October 1674. 1 As the coro-
nation ceremony required also a queen wedded
with Vedic rites, on the 30th of May the
marriage of Shivaji with his eldest living queen
was again performed with Vedic mantras ( J ).
It is sometimes supposed that Shivaji had a new
wife on this day, but the wording in J **W5T$ f^Tf %^F*
44 marriage was performed with mantras," without
specifying the name of the family of the bride, can
only be understood in the above sense. The main
coronation ceremony took place six days after on
Friday, Jyestha, S'.12 (Ghati 21-14,) when the night
remained only 3 ghadis, which means that the cere-
mony took place on the 1 3th, early in the morning
of Saturday, an hour and twenty minutes before
sunrise. These details of time are important and
J gives them purposely as they belong to the most
important event in the life of Shivaji and the
history of Maharashtra. J gives the Mahomedan
Fasli date also, namely, 10 Ravilaval, Khamas
Sabain Alaf. This date and hour is also given by
the Dutch letter above referred to.

At this astrologically auspicious moment,
Shivaji sat on the Sinhasan specially prepared,
1. PS 1684.

246 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

a gold-plate-covered ivory throne, (in which jewels
were set in various places and gold lion-heads in
the four corners ), with his chief queen by his side
and his eldest son Sambhaji on the step in front.
The eight ministers with the insignia of royalty in
their hands such as Chhatra ( umbrella ), Chamar
( deer hair ) etc., stood on the four sides by the
eight pillars which supported the canopy from
which hung festoons of big pearls. And Gagabhat,
amidst the sounding of auspicious instruments and
the boom of cannon, sprinkled on Shiva ji's head the
holy waters brought from the four seas and the
seven sacred rivers of India specially for the
occasion, chanting the Vedic mantras prescribed in
the Aitareya Brahmana for Mahabhisheka, one of
which is the ever-to-be-remembered blessing
May' thy sub'jects lo've thee e'ver
May' toy ki'ngship sli'p thee n'ever.*
Shiva ji then started on a triumphal procession
through the streets of the city on the fort, to show
himself to the thousands of his subjects who had
gathered to greet him, and also to pay a visit to
the temple of Mahadeva and Durga. Led by two
painted elephants decked with golden ornaments
and two horses similarly decked, and seated in a
car drawn by bullocks, Shivaji received the Jaya
acclamations of his happy subjects, amidst showers

THE IMPOSING CEREMONY 247

of small gold and silver flowers sprinkled by women
looking at the procession from windows. Having
worshipped Mahadeva and Bhavani at the temple
which he had constructed, he returned by another
road amidst similar demonstrations to his palace.

On the next day, namely, the 7th of June,
Shivaji held a Darbar in which officers and jagir-
dars made presents to him. Moropant Peshwa
presented 7,000 hons which were sprinkled over
Shivaji's head, thus giving him what is represented
as a bath in gold- The Mujumdar similarly present-
ed 7,000 hons and two other ministers 5,000 each,
see Dutch record, dated 3rd October. Then Poshaks
( garments ) were presented to all including the
envoys. The Portuguese, the Dutch and also the
English envoys were most probably present. The
eight ministers stood as follows : (with their old
and new titles-S ).

*1. Moropant, Peshwa or *1. Hambirrao Mohite,
Mukhya-Pradhan Sarnobat or Senapati

( Chief Minister) (Commander-in-Chief)

2. Niraji Nilkanth, 2. Ramchandra Trim-

Mujumdar or Pant bak, Dabir or Sumant

Amatya (Accountant) ( Foreign Minister ).

3. AnnajiDatto,Surnisor 3. Raoji Niraji, Nyaya-

Pant Sachiv ( Corres- dhisha (Chief Justice),
ponding Minister ). -a new office

*This represents the place on each side in the Durbar.

248 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

4. Dattaji Trimbak, 4. Raghunathrao, Pandit-

Waknis or Mantri, rao, ( Ecclesiastical

( Privy Purse ) Minister). do.

These ministers were presented each with one

lakh of hons, one elephant, one horse, garments

and ornaments. Gagabhat was given one lakh

of rupees for seeing the whole ceremony through.

The Dakshinas granted by Shiva ji on the several

occasions of the coronation ceremony were very

large, as was suited to the occasion. Sabhasad

reports that the whole expenditure amounted to

one crore and forty two lakhs of hons or 426 lakhs

of rupees.

But this enormous expenditure was justified by
its results* It gave a religious sanction to the new
position of Shiva ji as the crowned king of Hindavi
Svara jya and created a sentiment of patriotic love
of country in the hearts of Marathas, of such
strength that it lasted one hundred years at least
and weathered successfully Aurangjeb's invasion
of Maharashtra after Shivaji'g death and even led
to the extension of Maratha power, after Aurang-
jeb had passed away.

The ceremony gave the greatest gratification
to one person and the greatest grief to another.
Shivaji's old mother Jijabai had, with Rajput
instinct, sympathised with Shivaji's sacred plan of
founding Swaraj and had made him what he was by

THE IMPOSING CEREMONY 249

her highly spiritual life. It was a moment of
supreme happiness to her, when crowned Shivaji
stood before her to bow to her and receive her
blessing. She felt the greatest gratification to find
that she had lived to see that day ; for she was
very old ( about 80 years ), according to the Dutch
letter above quoted, and she had really lived for
it; for she died only 12 days after the happy event.
The Dutch letter states that she left 25 lakhs of
hons to Shivaji.

The greatest grief was caused to Aurangjeb.
His general Bahadurkhan had done nothing to
prevent this ceremony. He indeed wished to go
into the Konkan; but Shivaji had taken precaution
by posting strong guards at every pass- Probably,
he was afraid of mountain- traps also and he was
further not very keen. The Bijapur ministers were
also not much pleased or grieved, nor the Sultan of
Govalkonda ; for the latter saw in Shivaji a strong
ally against the threatening encroachment of
Aurangjeb. Thus Aurangjeb alone felt real grief
at this event. He had lost the game against Shivaji
who, though equal 'to him in every art of fraud or
force, had won, by God's favour, the game of poli-
tics which they were playing on the plain of Maha-
rashtra. " God has favoured the Marathas", he ex-
claimed, "and given them an independent king/*
( Sabhasad ).

250 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

The English were good enough to send a re-
presentative on this auspicious occasion, as they
were glad to see Shiva ji crowned, being at the time
friendly towards him. The following graphic
account of his visit by Oxenden may be quoted for
the curious reader: "The next morning, he and his
retinue went to court and found the Raja seated on
a magnificent throne and all the nobles waiting on
him in rich attire- His son Sambhaji, Peshwa Moro-
pant and a Brahmin of great eminence were seated
on the ascent under the throne, the rest, as well the
officers of the army as others, standing with great
respect (following the manner of the Durbar of
Aurangjeb which Shivaji had seen at Agra). The
English made their obeisance at a distance and
Narayan Shenvi held up the ring that was to be
presented. Shivaji personally took notice of it and
ordered their coming to the foot of the throne
where, being seated and presented with Poshaks,
they were desired to retire. * n

Oxenden further records that on the two sides of
the throne there were held the Mahometan insignia
"of government and dominion* 9 such as, on the right
side on heads of gilded lances, two golden heads
of fish with very large teeth ( showing sovereignty
of the sea ) and on the left side a pair of golden
scales 2 ( showing justice as the sign of royalty ).
1. ER486, p. 375. 2. Ibid.

THE IMPOSING CEREMONY 251

Oxenden also records that Shiva ji signed the
treaty with the English on the 1 1th of June, except-
ing the article regarding coins. Shivaji had pro-
bably delayed signing upto this day, as he intended
to sign the document as a crowned king covenant-
ing with another crowned king.

Shivaji started a new era from the day of his
coronation, namely, 6th June 1674 and this era, call-
ed the Rajyabhisheka era, was used for many
years after him. Unfortunately it has ceased to
be used now like the coronation eras of mediaeval
Hindu kings such as Harsha of Kanauj, Vikra-
maditya of the Deccan or Kumarapala of Gujarat
It is strange that even the Peshwas later on ceased
to use this era and always mentioned the Fasli year.

Note: Some minor details

(1) Dakshinas: Sabhasad relates that 50,000 Vaidika
Brahmins had collected on the occasion of Shivaji's
coronation, This is clearly a mistake for 5,000. Besides
these there were Jogis, Sanyasis etc., by thousands.
These were fed or given corn below the fort. It is related
in contemporary papers that Shivaji, before coronation,
was weighed against gold and almost every other metal
as well as auspicious thing. Dutch record describing the
ceremony in detail on 3rd October, PS 1684, states that
Shivaji weighed 17,000 hons or 160 Ibs., and he was also
weighed against stiver, copper, iron etc., and against cam-
phor, salt, sugar, butter, various kinds of fruit, betel-nuts
etc., and the value of the whole was distributed amongst
Brahmins. On the 7th of June, the day after the corona*

252 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

tion, Dakshina was given in general and every Brahmin
got 3 to 5 Rs.and every one else, whether woman or child,
2 Rs. and I Re. In all, the Dakshina amounted to U lakhs
of hons in value.

Oxenden also states in his diary from 13th May to
13th June that Shiva ji was weighed against gold and the
weight, 16,000 hons, together with one lakh of hons in
addition were distributed as Dakshina among Brahmins.

The above noted Dutch record further states that for
the Vratya ceremony 7,000 hons were given to Gagabhat
and 17,000 to other Brahmins. On the 5th of June,
Shiva ji bathed in holy Ganges water and every Brahmin
present was given 100 hons.

(2) It is reported that the ministers represented that
their offices should be declared hereditary and that Shivaji
granted this request on the coronation day. But this does
not seem probable, as it was against the principle of
Shivaji to make any office hereditary. He, however, gave
to Balaji Avaji Prabhu Chitnis whose work was most
satisfactory, a Sanad (PS 1654, dated 7th June 1 674) confer-
ring on him the offices of Karkhannis and Jamnis in the
whole state. The sanad relates that Balaji was offered
a ministership, but he declined it and asked for the above
offices hereditarily in his family.

The Deshmukhs of Mawal were also rewarded. They
were the first to assist Shivaji and loyally stood by him to
the last On the day when Shivaji sat on the throne,
they asked for reward and they were given the right to
the first place among Deshmukhs and the right to enjoy
their Watans hereditarily ( J ).

(3) Another coronation ceremony Obstructive and
dissatisfied Brahmins there were even then as always.

THE IMPOSING CEREMONY 253

They did not deem the ceremony satisfactory* though it
was acclaimed by the whole of Maharashtra* A poem
named Rajyabhisheka Kalpataru, a copy of which is in
the Library of the Bengal Royal Asiatic Society and
which has been published from it by the ItihasaS. Mandal
of Poona (Quarterly Vol. X-l), embodies some objections
raised against the coronation ceremony gone through* This
poem is not quite contemporary, as it mentions the later
idea that Shiva ji was an incarnation of S'iva ( not of
Vishnu as represented by the earlier Shivabharata) though
it is of the time of Rajaram. It gives an imaginary con-
versation between Nis chalapuri, a learned Brahmin ascetic
of Benares, who was an opponent of Gagabhat, and Govind-
bhat Barve as taking place in Konkan. It recounts the
ill omens which preceded and followed the coronation,
such as the death of Prataprao Gujar, the death of Kashi-
bai, wife of Shiva ji, etc. and the wound caused to Gagabhat
himself on the nose by the falling of a rafter. The poem
expressly says that Gagabhat engaged for the ceremony
those Brahmins only who were his followers and refused
to employ those recommended by Nis'chalapuri. Many
defects in the ceremony itself are next mentioned.
Thus when Shivaji was getting into the chariot after the
ceremony of ascending the throne, Gagabhat himself first
sat in the chariot and then Shivaji. After seeing the
whole ceremony through, Nis'chalapuri left the fort but
told Shivaji that bad events would happen on the 13th,
22nd and 55th days. On the 13th accordingly, Shivaji's
mother died. Next a horse-shed was burnt at Pratapgad
with good many horses in it and an elephant died
on Sinhgad. These incidents induced Shivaji to call
Nis'chalapuri back and through him and his Brahmins

254 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Shivaji performed afresh the ceremony of ascending
the throne, not with Vedic rites, but Tantrik or magical*
This ceremony is also described in detail. There are
mentioned some Vedic mantras from Samaveda as re-
cited ; but the ceremony was not Vedic. It was per-
formed on Ashvin S'uddha 5 ( Lalita Panchami day, S'.
1596 ), as is stated at the end of the poem* This ceremony
is also mentioned by J and Nis'chalapuri is also spoken
of in a Mahomedan record.

Shivaji must have performed this ceremony, not be-
cause he was so bigottecl as to believe that his mother's
death and other evil events really were due to defects in
the ceremony. He performed it because he desired to
satisfy all Brahmins, both Gagabhat and his opponent, so
that no one should detract from the great importance of
his coronation.

(4) Wives married again with Vedic rites. Oxenden
states that on the 8th of June Shivaji married without cere-
mony the fourth wife. This shows that Shivaji had four
wives alive at the time and that they were, one by one,
married again with Vedic rites to Shivaji, without, of
course, any kind of celebration.

XXXIII. SH1VAJI AND RAMADAS

It would be proper to give here in brief the
life and work of Ram a das who was, according to
our view, a co-worker with Shivaji in the sacred
cause of the deliverance of Maharashtra from the
oppression of a foreign rule and religion. He
was unquestionably, at this time, the spiritual guru
of Shivaji and Shivaji must have gone to Ramadas
after his coronation to bow to him. Ramadas re-
sided at Saj jangad near Satara. He sent his bless-
ings from there but, as was proper for a Sadhu,had
not gone to Raigad to attend the coronation cere-
mony. Shivaji placed his whole kingdom at the
feet of Ramadas as he bowed to him ; but the latter
returned it to him, asking him only to have a
banner of the saintly colour (Bhagva or soiled red)
in recognition of its re-gift to him. This story
simply impresses the fact that Shivaji ruled Maha-
rashtra not for his personal enjoyment and profit
but solely for the good of the people. The truth
of the story is doubted by some, because it is found
that the banner of Maloji was also of a soiled red
colour. But it is pointed out by the other side that the
eye-witness Oxenden reports ( ? ) that Shiva ji's ban-
ner at the time of the coronation was white in colour.

256 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

That Shiva ji placed his kingdom at the feet of Rama-
das after his coronation is, however, proved by his
own words in a document addressed to Ramadas,
dated 1679-80 1 . Ramadas was henceforth closely
associated with Shivaji in the cause of the uplift of
Maharashtra. We think it, therefore, proper to give
here in substance the leading facts in the life of
Ramadas and show also how and when he came
into contact with Shivaji and eventually became
his guru.

Ramadas was born in 1608 A. D. at Jamb
on the Godavari in Nizamshahi territory ( now in
the Nizam state ). His father, a Brahmin and a
Kulkarni, died early and he was brought up by his
mother and brother. When twelve years of age,
he ran away from his house. He was intensely
religious from early childhood and did not like to
be married, for which preparations were being
made, according to the custom of the time, at that
early age, by his loving mother and his brother.
He also disliked the life of a Kulkarni for which he
was born. Ramadas, thus running away, went to
Nasik and there lived twelve years incognito, per-
forming religious austerities. He then, at twenty-
four, is said to have gone on a pilgrimage through
India. In 1 644, after about twelve years, he returned
1. PS 2237.

SHIVAJI AND BAM AD AS 257

and settled first at Masur on the Krishna, which
was then in the jagir of Shahaji. He" subsequently
went to Chaphal where he built a temple of Rama,
his tutelary and also favourite deity, and began his
mission of rousing the people to a sense of their duty
to their religion and their country. He lived in this
part, passing days together in the hilly gorges of the
Sahyadri mountain, till the last of his days and
died in the year 1681, one year after Shiva ji.

The two most disputed points in connection
with Ramadas's life and work are these: (1) Did
Ramadas work for the political uplift of
Maharashtra or was he merely, like other Maratha
saints, a religious preacher ? (2) When did he
come into contact with Shiva ji and begin to inspire
the latter's political actions? There are two schools,
as usual, in Maharashtra on this question, the
orthodox and the heterodox. The first, on the
basis of the poetical lives of Ramadas, written
after him by his disciples which resemble the
Bakhars of Shivaji and which naturally exaggerate
matters, believe that Ramadas inspired Shivaji f s
actions from the very first. The other school
believes that Ramadas was never a political agitator
and was only brought into contact with Shivaji, as
a religious teacher, at a very late stage of his life,
probably, just before Shivaji's coronation. The
truth, according to our view, lies, as usual, in the

S. 17

258 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

golden mean. We will discuss these points in
short here, relying as before only on contempora-
neous documents.

The chief of these is, of course, the Dasabodha
of Ramadas himself which, like the Jnyaneshvari,
has immortalized the name of Ramadas and has
enriched Marathi literature. Indeed, it is the
greatest work in Marathi next to the Jnyaneshvari.
It is an original work by Ramadas, teaching Jnyana
( philosophy ), Bhakti (devotion), and what is more
important, Vyavahara ( political and worldly
wisdom). Ramadas composed this powerful poem,
divided into twenty chapters, after he settled at
Chaphal. The sixth chapter mentions its date as
S'aka 1581 or 1659 A. D. The eighteenth chapter
was certainly written just after the Afzalkhan
affair, as is evident from its contents, apparently
giving advice to Shivaji, though his name is not
mentioned therein. There is also extant a letter
in verse, addressed to Shivaji, which, by its
glowing tribute to Shivaji and by its powerful
Marathi, is undoubtedly written by Ramadas and
he complains in this letter that " though he resided
in Shivaji's territory, the latter had not yet visited
him." Shivaji must have gone to see Ramadas
immediately after and chapter XVIII contains
the instructions then given. It is thus certain that
Shivaji first came into contact with Ramadas in

SHIVAJI AND RAM ADAS 259

1660 after the Afzalkhan incident. He could not
have thus inspired Shivaji's actions from the very
beginning, as is maintained by the admirers of
Ramadas. Ramadas, when he settled at Chaphal in
1644, was thirty-six years old and Shiva ji was
then fourteen. Both began their political careers at
one and the same time. But they did it in different
parts of Maharashtra and could not have come
together till after Shiva ji had conquered Javali and
destroyed Afzalkhan and thus become master of
the mountainous country wherein Ramadas lived
and preached. Shivaji, at first sight, must have
marked the greatness of the saint and he even-
tually selected him as his guru. The sanad that he
gave to Ramadas declares no doubt that by the
blessing of the saint, he was successful in every
undertaking but this expression is of the usual
conventional nature and cannot justify the view
that Ramadas inspired every action of Shivaji from
the very beginning.

On the second point, we think that it can be
conclusively proved from Ramadas's own writings
that he was both a religious and a political preach-
er. While we cannot admit, as the orthodox party
propounds, that Shivaji began his political career
under inspiration from Ramadas, we cannot also
admit, as the other party persistently preaches,
that Ramadas never took part in politics and

260 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

never inspired Shiva ji's actions. Both we re great
men from the beginning and had thought out an
identical plan for the regeneration of their country,
and both began their work independently. But
they, as kindred spirits working for the same end,
each in his own way, came together, as they always
do, and worked together for the same end. How
Ramadas came to take up this political work and
how he worked first in his own way, we proceed
to explain.

The fact that Nizamshahi fell at the same
time that Ramadas, an impressionable, highly religi-
ously-minded young man, was performing austeri-
ties at Nasik, a town in the midst of the turmoil,
has to be taken into consideration in this connec-
tion. This coincidence of time explains why Rama-
das, alone of all Maratha saints, thought and spoke
of the political oppression of the people. We have
seen that the Nizamshahi was going to pieces from
1627 to 1633, and Ramadas at this time, in his 1 9th
to 24th. was practising austerities at Nasik. Two
Mahomedan armies had invaded the country, one
from the north and the other from the south and
were harassing the people. Shahaji was trying
his utmost to save the kingdom. At such times,
the Mahomedan excesses become frequent, almost
of every-day occurrence. Women are seized and
taken away into captivity and men are killed by

8H1VAJI AND BAM ADAS 261

hundreds with tortures of different kinds. These
tortures are described in detail in the first part of
the Dasabodha. Ramadas must have witnessed or
come to know these horrible miseries round about
Nasik and we even think that he left Nasik and
went on a long pilgrimage for this very reason.
Even in the vast Mogul empire in which he here-
after travelled, visiting differentTirthas in Northern
India, he must have seen the religious oppression
initiated by Shahjahan already noticed, namely old
Hindu temples being destroyed and new ones not
being allowed to be built. When he returned, he did
not goto Jambgaon where Mogul rule had been sub-
stituted for the tolerant Nizamshahi rule and he did
not also like, we think, to return to his kindred. He
went to the Krishna region and that part of it which
was under Hindu chieftains. His first sanads are
those by Diyanatrao, Shahaji and Ghorpade and
he lived in the ghalis or gorges of the Sahyadri
range, because they were never visited by Maho-
medans who liked to live in the plains of the
Deccan. The experiences of Ramadas were thus
entirely different from those of other noted saints
of Maharashtra. Jnyaneshvar lived, indeed, be*
fore the Mahomedans came to the Deccan, and
under the 4 benign rule of the Hindu Maratha king
Ramachandrarao Yadava. " Ekanath, no doubt,
lived under Bedarshahi Mahomedan rule at Paithan;

262 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

but the Bedar kings were tolerant and the gover-
nor of Daulatabad was the Brahmin Janardan-
pant, himself a saint and the guru of Ekanath. Tuk a -
ram lived under Nizamshahi and in the Poona
district under the good Shahaji and Dadaji Konddev
and he had no personal experience of, and no-
where speaks about, the excesses committed by
Mahomedans. We can thus see why these saints did
not become political preachers and why Ramadas
alone devoted much of his time and energy to the
cause of the political deliverance of Maharashtra.
Ramadas thought that the first thing necessary
was the strengthening of the religious feelings of
the Hindus* At that time, the hold of the Hindu
religion on the people was evidently weak, as
Ramadas complains in Dasabodha that Hindus
turn Mahomedans, even of their free will, and that
many go to worship Daval Malak ( Daud-ul-mulk
or the saint of the district). For this reason, Ramadas
founded the order of Ramadasi Sadhus who preached
Hindu religion along with the worship of Rarna.
The worships then prevalent were those of Vithoba
and Dattatreya. The first was mild and the second
was so tolerant that Dattatreya often appeared
himself in the form of a Mahomedan f akir. Ramadas
wanted a fighting god, one who had destroyed
Rakshasas. Moreover, a new religious preacher
cannot build on old foundations. He has to adopt

SHIVAJI AND RAMADAS 263

a new form of worship, a new god, a new gospel
and a new book of prayer, in order to make impres-
sion. He, like Jesus, did not condemn the old
worships, but established a new one not inconsistent
with the old. He built temples to Rama wherever
possible and to Hanuman almost everywhere. He
also brought his new order of Sadhus under strict
discipline. In fact, he may be said to have founded
an order of Hindu Jesuits who were to live by
begging while preaching the worship of Rama
among the common people. He got mathas or
monasteries established in almost every important
city in Maharashtra and even outside and
appointed tried disciples as their heads called
Mahants. The qualifications of a Mahant, given
in detail in Dasabodha, are very important, as they
show that Ramadas intended his Mahants to be
both religious and political workers. All the
Mahants were to go to the central matha at
Chaphal and there report to Ramadas their year's
work on the Ramanavami day. These Mahants
and preachers were naturally all Brahmins, for
Brahmins alone can live by begging and these
preachers were not intended to be a fighting com-
munity like the Sikh community which, originally
a religious one, subsequently became, under Guru
Govindsingh, a fighting order. Ramadas wanted
the Kshatriyas to fight and not these preachers and

264 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

for this purpose, he preached to the Marathas both
patriotic and religious sentiments to enable them to
establish Hindavi Swaraj.

Ramadas thus did not stop at preaching reli-
gion and philosophy in his Dasabodha but also
preached political sentiments and worked directly to
rouse the patriotic feelings of the Marathas, even
before he came into contact with Shivaji and saw
his work. He knew that without a physical strug*
gle with the Mahomedans, the political emancipa-
tion of Maharashtra could not be achieved. To
wage this physical fight was the duty of the
Kshatriyas or the Marathas and in his poem on
Kshatradharma, Ramadas says, in immortal lines
( which even the English repeated when they called
upon the Marathas to enlist for the last European
war), " Enlist each and every Maratha and fight
for Dharma of Maharashtra (*rcrer fctptf ^asrer i *r?RT2-
sfli ^ns^rer ). Those who call themselves high-born
Marathas should at once join while it is time. If
they do not do so, they will hereafter suffer heavily.*'
The following verse is even more explicit : "All
those dogs who hate the gods should be beaten and
sent back. The servants of gods will always
conquer. There is no doubt about it When all
rise, the army of the enemy will not count; but
fight cautiously and keep the people pleased."
Ramadas points out the extreme length to which

SHIVA JI AND RAM ADAS 265

they would have to go, " In the name of God and
for Him, beat the whole country, even destroy it
for establishing Dharma."

These lines could not have been uttered after
the success of Shiva ji over Afzalkhan ; for there
was then no need of such powerful preaching.
Marathas were then joining Shivaji's cause in
hundreds. This shows us what Ram a das did direct-
ly, politically, for rousing the Marathas before he
saw Shiva ji.* The further fact that he invited Shiva ji
after the Afzalkhan incident to see him shows that
he had found at last the man he was looking after
and he wished to support him with all his power.
For no purely religious preacher invites any
devotee, however great he may be.

In the remarkable letter in verse addressed
by him to Shivaji, evidently after the Afzalkhan
* Two letters are very important, in determining
dates of Ramadas's activity and his meeting with Shivaji.
PS 1039, dated 18th December 1654, a letter of Divakar
Gosavi, says that R&madss has gone into Shivthar ghal
( gorge ) and has begun his work ( Dasabodha ) f resolving
not to move from there for ten years. The second is from
Bhaskar Gosavi and is dated 13th February 1658. It
states that when he went to Shivaji to ask for alms, he
enquired who Ramadas was and where he lived and when
told that he was a saint originally of Jamb but now settled
at Chaphal in his math with the temple of Rama, Shivaji
ordered the payment of 200 hons yearly for the Utsava
of the Mandir. ( PS 1040 )

266 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

incident; Ramadas says, "God has blessed you.
Indeed Tuljabhavani stands at your back in every
fight. But act cautiously all the same; for the
Mlechchas are terribly bad men and they have
prospered here long.* Persistent effort, brave action
at the right time and astonishing deeds, these spring
from God. Those who strive to establish religion
are incarnations of the deity. God has inspired
your heart to undertake this righteous work. "
These words show how Ramadas sympathised
with Shivaji and found in him the man he had
wanted. And Ramadas having got his Kshatriya
warrior instructs him in this very way. The
sanad granted by Shivaji to Ramadas expressly
states how Ramadas at the first interview desired
him to do the work of a Kshatriya. In this sanad 1
Shivaji says, " 4 Your duty is to establish kingship
and protect religion, Brahmins, deities and subjects.
Remove their oppression. You will succeed in this
by the favour of God * Thus advised Ramadas
and under this advice, in whatever efforts I made
to destroy the Mahomedans, to build strong forts
with money obtained in plunder and to do other
things, I was successful through his blessings. "
These words of Shivaji show that Ramadas assign-
ed him the Kshatriya's part and gave him blessing*
in all his subsequent undertakings.

II 1. PS 2237. 1679.

SHIVAJI AND KAMADAS 267

And finally, when Shivaji succeeded in
founding a Hindavi Svarajya and got himself
crowned with Vedic rites, the exultation of
Ramadas knew no bounds. It is expressed by him
in a poem which can only come from the exultant
heart of one who had succeeded in his life-long
desire. " The sinful Aurangya has been drowned
(defeated). The Mlechchas have been d estroyed. The
sacred places which had been broken have been
set up again in this land of joy ( Maharashtra ). "*
This epithet itself ( STR^JSR ) shows how Ramadaa
dearly loved Maharashtra. These words of intense
joy clearly prove that Ramadas had worked for
the political uplift of the country. Shivaji firmly
believed so, as in a letter of Dattaji of 1677 to
Dinkar Gosavi, agent of Ramadas, Dattaji says that
" Shivaji has given eleven more villages as in am,
though Ramadas wants nothing and is indifferent,
and that the ornaments which Shivaji had put on
at the time of his coronation have been sent aa
present to Shri ( Ramadas or Rama ), as was at
that time intended and declared. ftl

Shivaji respected Ramadas highly and carried
out his wishes willingly till the last day of hia
life, (e g. see his order dated 2nd September 1675 2 .)

1. P2022. 2. PS 1777.

XXXIV. FRESH FIGHTS AND FURTHER
ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76

It was impossible that Shiva ji, having "assumed
the insignia of royalty" (Duff), would take rest
for the rest of his life. Nor was it possible that his
two neighbours who were unable to prevent him
from proclaiming independence would allow him
to take rest. Delhi was still at war with him
though the war languished. Bijapur was apparently
at peace with him but it was not quite sincere. 1
Bijapur did not pay Chauth ( tribute ) and the
Mahomedan Subedar of Phonda arrested a rich
merchant living at Narsa in Shiva ji's territory about
this time 2 . Shivaji f therefore, after the rains,
invaded the Karwar territory of Bijapur. He first
sent an army to besiege the fort of Phonda which
commanded the passage to that district and which
was then in the possession of Bijapur. Phonda,
like Sinhgad and Panhala, frequently changed
hands and was always kept by the suzerain power.
After having performed the thread ceremony of
his son Sambhaji with Vedic rites on Magh Vadya
5 ( J), as he now recognised the importance of this

1* PS 1666; ER II 5, Surat, 6th August 1674.

2. PS 1695; ER II 18, Karwar, 2nd September 1674.

FIGHTS AND ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76 269

initiation ceremony. Shivaji, on 6th March 1675,
marched against Bijapur Southern Konkan terri-
tory and on Chaitra Vadya 5 or April 5 ( J ), he
deputed Annaji Datto Pandit to invest Phonda 1
with a further force of two thousand horse and
seven thousand foot. 2 The killedar who was a
Mahomedan sent for provision from Bijapur and
also Goa and held out bravely, though no provi-
sions were received either from Goa or from
Bijapur. But the fort was mined by the Marathas
and taken on 1 7th April (J). Bahilolkhan advanc-
ed from Bijapur for its relief as far as Miraj, but,
finding it taken, returned. Some said that he was
given 3 50 thousand pagodas to return. But Shivaji
had also obstructed his coming on by blocking the
passes of the Sahyadri with felled trees. 4 After
taking the fort of Phonda, Shivaji immediately took
possession of the Konkan tract including Karwar 5
which town he plundered, though he treated the
English there with consideration. Shivaji also
took other forts in the district like Shiveshwar and
Ankola. 6 This change of masters in the district was
disliked by the English at Karwar, as they complain

1. PS 1 724; ER II 60, p. 33. Rajapur, 6th February 1675.

2. PS 1741; ER II 80, p. 41, Karwar 13th April 1675.

3. PS 1757; ER II 95, p. 55. Karwar, 9th June 1675.

4. & 5. PS 1753; ER II 91, p. 50, Rajapur, 3 1st May 1675.
6. PS 1751; ER II 88, p. 52, and PS 1753.

270 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

in a letter 1 that the new masters of Karwar
were more troublesome than the Mahomedans.

Before and while operating in this Konkan
district Shiva ji as usual sent an army on a plunder-
ing expedition in the corresponding Deccan of
Bijapur and it plundered Aitgiri and two other
towns even near Bhaganagar and brought the
plunder safely to Phonda 2 . Two Portuguese
towns were also plundered 2 , as the Portuguese were
in league with the killedar of Phonda. 2 Another
army of Shiva ji had plundered Hospet even be-
fore this and had obtained two lakhs of hons. 3
Dattaji with two thousand cavalry also levied tribute
from Kolhapur and Raibag. 4 Shivaji eventually
took this territory including Kolhapur with a force
consisting of 16,000 cavalry and 14,000 infantry. 5
In the next fighting season, ( November 1675 to
June 1676 ), Shivaji was really ill. Moreover, he
was highly displeased with the conduct of his son
and heir, Sambhaji, as will be related later on. 6 He,
therefore, remained at Panhala for a long time

1. Karwar. 1st July 1675; PS 1761; FR II 102, p. 59.
Z. Karwar, 22nd April 1675; PS 1743; ER 82, p. 48.

3. Kochin, Dutch, 6th December 1674 ; PS 1709.

4. Rajapur, 6th February 1675 ; PS 1724.

5. Rajapur, 1st April 1675; PS 1740; ER II 79, p. 41.

6. PS 181 1 ; ER II 139, Bombay, 17th January 1676.

FIGHTS AND ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76 271

apparently quiet. 1 But his army again plundered
Bi japur territory including Athni,f rom the merchants
of which place three lakhs of hons were obtained. 2
While Shivaji was thus fighting with Bijapur
in Konkan and the corresponding Deccan, his
Peshwa, commissioner of Northern division, success-
fully fought with the Moguls during the two years
1675-1676. Fighting was going on between the
Moguls and the Marathas in Kalyan Prant till Jan*
1675; the Moguls were defeated and they could
not take Kalyan. 3 Moropant took possession of
Ramnagar and from thence, like Shivaji in the
south, he sent a plundering expedition into
Aurangabad territory. Kutubkhan, a Mogul
commander, opposed it ; but his army was almost
destroyed. 4 The Marathas then plundered as
far as Dangaon and Burhanpur 5 and southwards
as far as Mahur 6 . Dilerkhan advanced against
this plundering force, but he was badly defeated,
one thousand Pathans being killed in the battle 7 .
Consequently, it was rumoured that a peace was
being arranged by which Shivaji, for his son

1. &2. PS 1833; ERH 150, p. 83 ; Rajapur, 13th
March 1676, also PS 1853 Dag Register.

3. PS 171 1; ER 11 50, P .23 and PS 1715; ER II 53, p. 25.

4. Surat, 9th January 1675, PS 1716; ER II 55, p. 25.

5. Surat, 20th January; PS 1719; ER II 56, p. 26.

6. Sabhasad and Duff.

7. Bombay, 5th February 1675; PS 1723; ER II 59, p. 26.

272 SHTVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Sambhaji as Mansabdar of five thousand horses,
would be given the Mogul territory of Auranga-
bad up to the Bhima 1 . But this was too flattering
to be true and the war between Shiva ji and the
Moguls continued.

Next year t Moropant Peshwa was below
Mahuli with a large force in January 1676 2 . He
moved towards Ramanagar and took Pindol and
Paineka 3 . A force of ten thousand cavalry sent by
Shivaji from Panhala came to Kalyan and passing
through the Portuguese territory of Bassein, joined
Moropant. Thus reinforced, he appeared before
and demanded tribute from Surat. A sum of nine
lakhs of rupees was demanded as tribute, besides
the regular Chauth. But the Mogul subedar resisted
and closed the gates. The Marathas eventually
retired owing to the coming of the rainy 4 season.
Friar records, however, that Shivaji got his usual
Peshkash 5 . Moropant kept four thousand men to
garrison Pindol and returned to Rajgad 6 .

r In order to understand why the Moguls and
the Bijapuris were thus unable to make headway

1. Surit 13th February 1675; PS 1725; ER II 65, p.34.

, I. Bombay, 26th April 1676; PS 1839.

3. Surat, 27di May; PS 1848; ER 11 164, p, 89.

4. Surat 22nd Sept. 1676 ; PS 1871; ER 11 182, p. 97.

5. PS 1904,

6. Surat, 4th July 1676; PS 1859; ER II 173, p. 94,

FIGHTS AND ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76 273

against Shivaji, we must remember the circum-
stances, favourable to him, which subsisted at
Delhi and Bijapur in these two years. "Aurangjeb
was occupied in establishing his authority and in
suppressing revolt in the north " ( Duff ). He,
therefore, did no more than urge Bahadurkhan who,
though formally recalled, was still in the Deccan.
Aurangjeb had, however, never given up his
design of annexing the whole of the Deccan.
"In fact his ambassadors were employed to create
dissensions in Bijapur and Govalkonda by bribing
every man in power and stirring up factions in
their internal government " ( Duff ). He, there-
fore, did not dislike the activities of Shivaji in the
Konkan and the corresponding portions of the
Deccan as these disabled and weakened Bijapur,
which thus became the more fitted for being
swallowed. Shivaji was, no doubt, growing strong;
but Aurangjeb always thought that he could crush
his state, small as it was, at any time. He could
employ factions and force even
Marathas as against Bijapur. He scj
ed that Shivaji was developing a
ment of nationality among the
rashtra or that Shivaji's officers
a prey to corruption or be read
own nation, for their individual
however, proved a vulnerable poinl
S. 18

274 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Aurangjeb, kept on remonstrating with and
even scolding Bahadurkhan for doing nothing.
Bahadurkhan, therefore, advanced against Bijapur
and Khavaskhan, not being ready or willing
to fight, offered terms of peace, namely, holding
the Bijapur kingdom as a dependency of the
Mogul empire and offering the king's sister in
marriage to a son of Aurangjeb. But these terms
were distasteful to the nobles of Bijapur and
Khavaskhan was one day murdered. J records that
Bahilolkhan seized Khavaskhan and became Kar-
bharion 3 Ram jan( 19th Nov. 1675). The quarrels at
Bijapur between the two opposing parties, namely,
the Abyssinian and the Pathan, increased and there
were even skirmishes between their followers, the
former led by Sarjekhan and the latter by
Bahilolkhan, as is reported in a Ra japur letter of 9th
May 1676, 1 as also Dutch record, dated 21st May 2 .
Taking advantage of this state of affairs, Baha-
durkhan moved against Bijapur ; see Surat letter,
dated 1st May. 3 Bahilolkhan had, however, in the
meanwhile, somehow become strong and issuing
out, gave a crushing defeat to the Moguls at Halgi
on 1st June 1675 (J).

Two contemporary English letters mention these events
Bombay letter, dated 26th November (PS 1798) states
that Bahadurkhan who was scolded by Aurangjeb for his

1. PS 1844; ER II 101, p. 88. 2. PS 1846.

3. PS 1842.

FIGHTS AND ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76 275

inactivity, formed a marriage relation with Khavaskhan,
" the protector * and induced him to send a large army
against Shivaji, instead of making a treaty with Shiva ji
which was most imminent. The Siddi with his navy and
with two thousand newly enlisted men was also giving
trouble on the sea, " and had even burnt Vengurla". This
letter also expresses concern for Shivaji, beset as he was
with these many difficulties. He was also ill at this time
and it was rumoured that he had even died* But the
whole scene changed. The factions at Bijapur terminated
in a manner favourable to Shivaji. Rajapur letter
dated 1 ith January 1676 ( PS 1805 ) which mentions the
rumour about Shivaji's death, states that Bahilolkhan has
seized and confined Khavaskhan and taking possession of
the boy king has himself become the regent. " It was
also rumoured that he had put Khavaskhan to death ".

The defeat of the Moguls is reported in a late Dutch
letter, dated 6th November 1676 (PS 1881 ), which also
states that Sbivaji was extending his dominion towards
Surat without opposition. Another Dutch record of 18th
November (PS 1882 ) gives more details of this defeat,
namely, that " four thousand men and four well-known
captains on the Mogul side fell in the battle " ( J records
that Islamkhan Rumi on the Mogul side fell ). The
Dutch record also reports that Bahilolkhan subsequently
opened negotiations for peace and the matter was referred
to Aurangjeb. Bahadur khan appears at this time to have
received offers of peace from Shivaji also and rumours
of a peace concluded with Shivaji reached Surat and
Bombay about December 5. 1676- The terms were as
before, four lakhs of hons for territory to be given to
Sambhaji for his mansab and it was even reported

276 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

that Niraji on behalf of Sambhaji had gone with five
thousand horse to the Moguls for service (PS 1685 ).
But, as before, these terms were too good to be accepted
and on 20th December, Bombay wrote that the peace
negotiations were broken off (PS 1893), Bahadur khan
was thus still at war with Shiva ji at the end of 1674.

Bahilolkhan was unwilling to fight with two
powers at the same time and was willing to make
peace with Shivaji so that they both might oppose
the Moguls. Rajapur letter to Surat, dated 24th
July 1676 1 states that this peace was brought about
by the mediation of Govalkonda so that the three
might unitedly oppose Aurangjeb. It was settled
that Shivaji should keep the territory east of
Kolhapur upto the Krishna, paying three lakhs of
rupees as Peshkash ( present ) and one lakh of
hons as yearly rent. This method of retaining
conquered territory under a lease paying a small
rent, by which the minds of the people and the
powerless suzerain are gradually reconciled to the
new conditions seems thus to have been first start-
ed by Shivaji. It was copied by the English when
they leased the Divani of Bengal from Shahalum.
Shivaji had, we have seen, similarly taken his own
Poona district on lease from Aurangjeb in Jaisingh's
time; but after a second fight subsequent to his
escape from Agra, the lease ended of itself and

1. PS 1 863; ER III 175, p. 95.

FIGHTS AND ACQUISITIONS IN 1675-76 277

Shivaji became full master. In this way, a new
rule is quietly substituted for an old one without
causing disturbance of the public sentiment.

About this time N eta ji Palkar who had been
converted to Mahomedanism was reconverted and
admitted to caste privileges by Shiva ji's order ( 1 1th
June 1676) 1 . We have seen how Netaji was won
over by Jaisingh and sent to the north and how he
was there converted. He was a bold captain and
was 'even styled 'Second Shivaji'. But it was
difficult to be Shivaji himself. He probably found
no opportunity to establish a kingdom like Shivaji
or even a feudatory lordship under Aurangjeb.
He, therefore, returned from the north and was
probably at this time in the Mogul army, or he may
have come directly to Shivaji and joined him after
reconversion.

1. J and PS 1863, Rajapur, 24 July 1676; ER II 175.
p. 95.

XXXV. DARING EXPEDITION INTO
DISTANT KARNATAK (1677-78;

Shivaji was at peace with Bijapur and had
secured his new conquests above the Ghats upto
the Krishna, including Kolhapur 1 and both Satara 2
and Wai 3 - There was thus no room for extend-
ing his dominion in this direction. Shivaji, there-
lore, while he resided at Panhala in the rainy
season of 1676, conceived in his mind a plan for
acquiring territory in another direction. Ekoji,
his half-brother, had fought against him in the
Bijapur army on several occasions, on the ground
that he held the jagir inherited from Shahaji under
Bijapur Why should he not claim and acquire
half of this jagir ? Ekoji was also acquiring new
territory, as he had just conquered the Nayak of
Tanjore. ( The Nayak of Tanjore quarelled with
the Nayak of Madura and the latter appealed to
Bijapur Durbar for help. They commissioned
Ekoji to subdue the former. Ekoji not only
subdued him but annexed his territory to his

1. Also noted in Surat 10th January I 677; PS 1907;
ER li 198, p. 106.

2. Sanad, 28th June 1 676; PS 1 8 56-57.

3. PS 1889 of December 1676*

SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ.

Shivaji on an Expedition into the Karnatak.
From a painting in the Louvre, Paris.

Tn

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK J 677-78 279

possessions 1 ). Ekoji thus became full master of the
Tanjore district on the Coromandel coast, as is
reported in a Dutch record dated 22nd July, 1676 2 .
Why should he not also acquire territory on that
coast and if necessary hold it under Bijapur as his
brother did, indeed, as he himself held his own
Kolhapur territory? Bahilolkhan was fickle and
might declare war against him at any time. But
Shivaji could conquer even Bijapur if its Karnatak
province were in his possession and if he could
attack Bijapur from the south as well as from the
west. Considerations like these must have occurred
to Shivaji when he revolved in his mind this
daring expedition into distant Karnatak. He finally
decided in its favour and silently made prepara-
tions for it. Shivaji's motive in this distant ex-
pedition was not mere plunder, but extension of his
territory as Mr. Sen has properly pointed out in his
article on this expedition (S N. 1,pp. 57-60) on the
basis of French testimony from Pondichery.

The motive of Shivaji was even higher, as
may be gathered from his remarkable long letter
to Maloji Raje Ghorpade written from Hydera-
bad in March 1677 3 while Shivaji was there on this
expedition. "Adilshahi has been seized by Bahilol-

1. Historical Miscellany, Tanjore and Venkoji,
PS 1906.

2. PS 1862. 3. Saraswati Mandir; PS I90K

280 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

khan Pa than. It is not good that the Deccani
Padshahi should be in the hands of a Pathan ( a
Northerner ) . The Padshahi of the Deccan be-
longs to us, the Deccanis. ( It is note-worthy
that Shivaji includes in this word the Deccani
Mahomedans). Our castemen, the Marathas, should
go over to Kutubshahi which is a Deccani state.
I forget all that your father, Baji Ghorpade, did to
my father and I did to Baji and he did to me. Let
the past be past. We will combine. Adilshahi
can subsist no longer. You are a Maratha and in
order that you may be benefited, come to Kutub-
shahi. My father Shahaji, when he became
supreme in Adilshahi, raised to dignity many
Marathas and your father Baji, among them. I
swear by God, you should give up all doubt and
send your vakil- " This extract is long but we can
gather from it the high motives of Shivaji in under-
taking this expedition, as indeed in all the activi-
ties of his whole liie.

As expected, Bahilolkhan changed his mind
and made peace with Bahadurkhan, subedar of the
Moguls* Shivaji, therefore, strengthened his re-
lations with Kutubshah who was for Deccanis fight-
ing with the Northerners. Akanna and Madanna,
his Brahmin ministers; were also favourable to
Shivaji, who now sent Pralhad Niraji to settle a
fresh treaty with Kutubshah, so that he might allow

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KABNATAK 1677-78 281

Shivaji to pass through his territory to Karnatak,
on condition that the former might share in Shiva ji's
conquests there. As usual Shivaji gave out that he
was preparing for an expedition against towns on
the west coast- Malwerer writes from Bombay on
2nd October, 1676 that Shivaji has started with a
large army on an expedition against Kannad, espe-
cially the territory adjoining Barcelore and
Honavar. 1

We may note here that the word * Kannad f
or Karnatak then meant the whole of South India
between the Coromandel and the Malabar coasts,
as it formed part of the kingdom of Vijayanagar
which was the real Kannad land where Kanarese
was spoken. The eastern coast territory was really
Tamil land and was called Cholamandala ( cor-
rupted into Coromandel ) meaning the kingdom of
the Choi as and the people there spoke and speak
even now Tamil. After the conquest of the Vijaya-
nagar empire by the five Mahomedan kingdoms
of the Deccan in the battle of Talikot, the several
tributary local chiefs called Nayaks became practi-
cally independent. They were subdued one by
one by Bijapur generals, assisted by Shahaji, in
the first half of the seventeenth century. Shahaji
got for his services a big jagir viz* Bangalore and the
adjoining parts, as we have already seen. Bijapur

1. PS 1873; ER 11185, p. 99

282 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

subedars holding different divisions of Karnatak,
however, repeated the old order of things and
were either practically independent or in revolt
against Bijapur. And Bijapur kings, who valued
these possessions as they were rich, were constantly
engaged in subduing these insubordinate subedars*

As Shivaji resolved to start on this distant
expedition, which would take many months, he
made adequate arrangements for the safety of his
kingdom. Sabhasad states that he sent large
presents to Bahadurkhan and induced him to
promise secretly not to molest Shivaji's territory.
Bahadurkhan was ready to accept a bribe; for he
was not really in a position to take the offensive
against the Marathas, and skirmishes only now and
then took place. 1 Moropant Peshwa, Annaji Surnis
and Dattaji Waknis, the three veteran commanders
and commissioners of the three divisions of Shivaji's
state, were left to oppose him. Shivaji also built
new forts from Tattora ( Phaltan ) to Panhala to
strengthen his hold on the Deccan region about
Kolhapur ( Duff ). Thus securing his possessions.
Shivaji started, taking with him twenty-five thou-
sand horse and Raghunath Narayan and Janardan

1. Bombay* 24th Jan. 1677; PS 1910; ER II 201, p. 1 10.

Bombay, 19th March 1677; P 1918 speaks of trust-
worthy news being received of a peace between the
Moguls and Shivaji.

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK 1677-78 283

Narayan Hanmante who were the sons of the
Secretary of Shahaji and who were fully acquaint-
ed with things and affairs in Karnatak. Hambirrao
Mohite, his commander-in-chief, probably took a
southern route while Shiva ji himself went by the
one due east after passing through the Vengurla
Ghat. For J mentions a battle between Hambirrao
and Husseinkhan Mayena, a Bijapur captain, near
Gadag in which the latter was signally defeated
and was hinself taken prisoner ( January, 1677 ),

Shivaji on arrival at Hyderabad or Goval-
konda was royally received by Akanna and
Madanna outside the city and by the Sultan in his
palace. Shivaji as a crowned king was treated as
an equal. J records that this visit took place in
Phalgun S' 1598 (March 1677 ) and that with
Shivaji were Sarjerao Jedhe and Yesaji Kank
who was Sarnobat or commander-in-chief of in-
fantry. The Sultan gave a large sum of money
to Shivaji. as the latter had scrupulously abstained
from plundering Govalkonda territory. Sabhasad
states that Shivaji maintained strict discipline on
the march and even put to death some plunderers.
Akanna and Madanna, the two brothers, also
entertained Shivaji at their house and gave him
large presents.

Joined by a strong contingent from Goval-
konda ( J and S ), Shivaji marched towards the

284 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

south and at once succeeded in capturing the
impregnable fort of Jinji 1 . It was held by some
Abyssinian captains who were opposed to the
Bijapur Pathan party and they are said to 9 have
been bribed and they easily handed over the fort
to Shivaji. Sabhasad also states that Rupalkhan
and Nasarkhan, sons of Khavaskhan, the Vazir
of Bijapur, who were in the fort, were induced
to leave it on an assurance given them ( of patro-
nage ). But Dag Register 1677, dated 16th July,
states that the Bijapur captain Nasirkhan with
seven thousand men held the fort and defended
it against Shivaji who had 16 thousand cavalry
and 15 thousand infantry. 2 Shivaji took possession
of the territory about the fort of Jinji and repaired
and strengthened its fortifications. " New walls
and towers were built which appeared as if they
were built by Europeans. Tanks and houses were
also built so that they might be of use in times of
war. " The Jesuit record also states that Shivaji
made preparations "for future fighting with the
combined Mahomedan powers/* These words
written in Jesuit letters in 1677 are almost prophetic;
but it is not strange if Shivaji with his now
advanced political wisdom and high military genius
foresaw that a life and death struggle with Aurang-

1. PS 1920. His. Mis. Jesuit letter, p. 1 1 .

2. PS 1920 and PS 1954,

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK 1677-78 285

jeb was inevitable and that a strong extensive fort
like Jinji in the distant south would afford him a
last stand if Panhala and Raigad were lost*

There was one captain Sherkhan Lodi Pathan,
a partisan of Bahilolkhan who, however, opposed
Shivaji in this district with 5 thousand hors and
many elephants. He was totally defeated and
taken prisoner. Five hundred horses and 17
elephants were captured and incalculable wealth
was seized and " the Mahal ( territory ) of Trimul
was conquered " ( Sabhasad ) . But from a Madras
letter, dated 16th July, it appears that Sherkhan
escaped and was being pursued by Shivaji's men
near Punamali. The writer of this letter Ramanna,
envoy of the English, saw Sliivaji encamped at
Trimul Vada on the Kaveri 1 . The fort of Vellore
in that district was another important and strong
fort. It was laid siege to, but it held out for over
a year before it eventually fell, being taken by
Hambirrao and Raghunathpant on 22 June 1678
after Shivaji's return ( J ). Sabhasad says that it
had a moat full of deep and natural water with alli-
gators in it and the rampart was so broad that two
bullock carts side by side might run on it- Event"
ually territory of 20 lakhs of hons revenue with
Jinji as capital came into the possession of Shivaji
who appointed Ramchandra Narayan as its sube-
1. PS 1953; ER II 240, p. 130.

286 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

dar with the olfice of Majmu bestowed upon him
(Sabhasad). These events are shortly given by J as
follows : " Shivaji took Jinji and the whole of
Karnatak in Chaitra S'uddha S' 1599 (April 1677).
In Ashadh (June to July) he seized Sherkhan near
Tirupati with ten elephants. Bahilolkhan could not
do anything to check Shivaji, as Bahadurkhan the
Mogul advanced against him and took Lai Darga Kot
(ground fort) and in June took Naladurg through
Ranamastakhan." We get confirmation of this fact
in letters from Fort St. George. Thus on 9th May the
1677, the English speak of Shivaji with 20 thousand
horse and 40 thousand infantry advancing on Jinji,
a portion of his army passing by Madras and Tiru-
pati 1 . Shivaji remained friendly with the English
and even called for some medicines from them 2
for which he sent a complimentary reply from
Vellore on 25th May 3 .

Ekoji came to see his half-brother Shivaji
and he was well received. After eight days of
stay he, however, suddenly left Shivaji's camp as
Shivaji asked for 2 share in his father's estate
and also jewels and emblems enjoyed by his father
as he was the elder son 4 . Shivaji did not pursue

1. PS 1932; ER II 241, p. 132.

2. PS 1934; ER II 222, p. 117.

3. PS 1937; ER II 224, p. 118.

4. Supported by Madras letter PS 1957 ; ER II 240, p. 130,

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK 1677-78 287

Ekoji ; but allowing him to enjoy his new acqui-
sition, namely Tan jore, he passed through the Ghats
and seized Kolar, Bangalore and other parts which
were in the jagir of his father. He had left
Hambirrao Mohite Senapati for the protection of
the province of Jinji with Raghunathpant. The
district of Kolar was next entrusted to Rango
Narayan as subedar to work under Raghunath-
pant and Shivaji kept with him a strong force
under Manaji More. He then turned towards the
north accompanied by a force under Anandrao
and came to Panhala via Kopal, Lakshmeshwar
and Sampgaon ( S ). There was an insignificant
fracas with the heroic lady Desain of Velvad, the
ground fort of which was taken and the Desain
was punished (S). She probably was compelled
to pay a fine. ARajapur letter, 1 however, speaks of
this incident as the most ignominious defeat inflict-
ed on Shivaji : " He who had conquered so many
kingdoms was not able to reduce a woman. "

J records these subsequent events with dates
as follows: " In S'ravan ( July 1677 ), Shivaji Raje
and Ekoji Raje met ; but the latter fled owing to
disagreement, whereupon his vilayat ( ancestral
jagir) was seized, namely Chidambar, Bangalore, etc.
Shivaji laid siege to Kolar in As'vin ( September ).
Shivaji appointed Raghunath Narayan to the
1. PS 2019; ER II 285. p. 157, 28th Feb. 1678.

288 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Majmu and made him subedar of Jin ji giving him
one lakh of hons as reward. In Kartik ( October )
Shivaji returned from Karnatak to Gadag and
besieged Velvandi ( of the Desain ). Taking pos-
session of the whole of Gadag, Shivaji returned to
Raigad in Jyeshtha ( May 1678 ).

An interesting letter from the English Hindu
envoy in Shivaji's camp to Fort St. George, dated
27th July 1677, 1 supports the above account and
date of the meeting of Ekoji with Shivaji. "Shivaji
accepted six lakhs of hons", it first states, "as present
from the Nayak of Madura, as settled by Raghu-
nathpant for not molesting him Ekoji came to
meet Shivaji at Trimalvadi and was well received;
but Shivaji demanded his share in the father's
property, both moveable as also territory. Ekoji
consequently left ; but his Brahmin ministers were
seized by Shivaji.'*

Surat wrote on 31st October 1677 that Shivaji
had plundered Shrirangpattan and acquired
immense wealth. He also levied tributes from
those polygars who submitted and punished those
who opposed him. 2 Thirdly, a letter from Madras
dated 28th November, reported that Shivaji had
left Karnatak with four thousand horse 3 .

1. PS 1957; ER II 24 1, p. 132.

2. PS 1992; ER II 264, p. 145.

3. PS 1995; ER II 264, p, 146.

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK 1677-78 289

The daring distant expedition led by Shiva ji
into Karnatak was thus a complete success like all
his other undertakings. Indeed, it was the climax
of Shivaji's wonderfully successful career. The
English at Bombay wondered how Shivaji constant-
ly got success over the powerful kingdoms of both
north and south. 1 Surat people feared that he
would become master of the whole country from
Surat to Cape Camorin. 2 His celerity of move-
ment and consummate generalship were so fully
displayed that the English compared his Karnatak
expedition to that of Caesar into Spain, " veni,
vidi, vici, he came, he saw, he conquered." 3 The
facility with which he took forts was compared to
the ease of Alexander in taking strongholds. He
impressed the Mahomedans so much that Maho-
medan Killedars evacuated forts and fled in fear,
on hearing of his approach. In fact, Shivaji and
his army had become a terror to all.

This expedition brought to Shivaji further
acquisition of territory of the yearly income of
nearly forty lakhs of hons and secured to him two
strong forts, Jinji and Vellore, in a distant part of
the country, where he might retire in the last resort.
Nearly half of this territory was that of his father

1. PS 2006 of 15 January 1678; ER II 269, p. 148.

2. PS 1992, 31 October 1677; ER II 263, p. 146.

3. PS 2007, Bombay 16 Jan. 1678; ER II 272, p. 150.
S. 19

290 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

taken from Ekoji's servants. He was justified in
seizing this territory in the upper Karnatak. He
was justified in demanding it of Ekoji as he was
the elder son of Shahaji. Jagirs were generally
descendable in the elder line. Even if it be suppos-
ed that some Jagirs are partitionable, Ekoji, be-
ing a jagirdar under Bijapur, had fought against
Shivaji and if Shivaji had a right to seize Bijapur
territory, being at war with it, he had also a right
to seize the half portion of Ekoji in the ancestral
jagir. It cannot, therefore, be contended that
Shivaji treated his brother unjustly.

It may, however, be said that Shivaji was
now extending his dominion over other lands than
Maharashtra and was not there establishing Swaraj*
He established in fact Maratha rule in Karnatak.
But it may be said it was a Hindvi Swaraj all the
same. Hindu Marathas had a better right than
Mahomedans or the English to establish their rule
in Karnatak. Karnatak unfortunately was at this
time parcelled out into small kingdoms or chief*
doms ruled by petty nayaks who constantly fought
with one another and who thus were unable to
establish a Hindvi Swaraj of their own. Indeed,
after the fall of Vijayanagar, Karnatak was an
open field for any outsider strong enough to
seize it. The Mahomedans, the English, the French
and the Dutch were actually striving at this time to

EXPEDITION INTO DISTANT KARNATAK 1677-78 291

pounce upon such parts of it as they could* Shivaji
was thus, according to the political ideas of the
time, justified in carving out a kingdom for him-
self in Karnatak. His rule may also be properly
called Hindvi Swaraj, as the population there was
chiefly Hindu.

Shivaji, a devout Hindu that he was, visited
every sacred place in Karnatak and observed all
the formalities of pilgrimage at each. Thus
English letter, dated 2nd August, 1677, mentions
Shiva ji's going to see the god at Hirudachalam,'
keeping his army at Yelvanarasor 1 . We, however,
doubt the story recorded even by Sabhasad that
Shivaji was so overpowered with the religious
sentiment of renunciation at the temple of S'risai-
lam that he wished to cut his head and place it on
the altar before Mahadeva. He was, we know, a
true disciple of Ramadas and he would scarcely
have thought of doing so. Ramadas had already
told him in the beginning that his highest duty and
devotion to God was to establish Hindvi Swaraj
and protect Hindus, especially Brahmins, cows
and the sacred idols in temples.

Finally, it may be stated that after Shivaji

departed, Ekoji tried to destroy Hambirrao by

attacking him with an overwhelming force of his

own and of local polygars; but he was signally de-

1. PS 1964, from Raman na; ER II 244, p. 133.

292 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

feated by Hambirrao, even with his smaller force
and four thousand horses and some elephants with
incalculable wealth were seized by him (S).
Raghunathpant and Hambirrao thereon invaded
Tanjore, the new jagir of Eko ji, and brought him to
his senses* Shivaji sent word that Ekoji, though he
had erred, was after all his brother and might be
left in the possession of Tanjore. The date and
place of this battle was November 1677 (Kartik)
and Ahiri (J). Ekoji concluded peace, agreeing to
give up his claim to the Kolar ancestral jagir. 1

Fort St. George letter, dated 20th Nov., states that
Santa ji, another captain of Shivaji, was attacked by Ekoji's
men and defeated. His force fled; but like Ashvatthama of
the Mahabharata, he returned at mid -night and massacred
Ekoji's men as they lay asleep in the glee of victory.

Shivaji at the conclusion of this most success-
ful expedition into Karnatak went to Sajjangad to
pay his respects to Ramadas and there asked per-
mission to rebuild the temple of Rama at Chaphal
after the fashion of the great temples he had seen
in Karnatak. This permission Ramadas did not give;
perhaps he was against having splendidly built
temples, but he allowed Shivaji to build a Math
for him at Sajjangad itself and to give further inam
lands for the Utsava at Chaphal. 2

1. PS 1995 ; ER 11 204, p. 146- 2. PS 2022.

XXXVI. DOUBLE SUCCESS OF
DILERKHAN'S DIPLOMACY

From the two notes in J, namely, " Shivaji
passed from Karnatak ( country beyond the Tunga-
bhadra ) into Gadag prant, in November, 1677"
and "after having captured Gadag prant, Shivaji
came to Raigad in June, 1678," it is clear that Shivaji
remained in Gadag territory during the whole
of the fighting season of 1678, /. e- from November
1677 to June 1678. The heroic Desain of Velvad
(near Bellary) could not have detained him so long*
He seems to have remained in this part near
Bijapur, carefully watching the events happening
there and ready to attack that city if necessary.
We have seen that Bahilolkhan offered terms of
peace to Bahadurkhan even before Shivaji start-
ed on his Karnatak expedition. A peace was
eventually concluded and it was settled that " the
latter should forbear the tribute due from Bijapur
( Nalbandi ) for eight years " and the two joining
their forces should march against Govalkonda,
and then against Shivaji. 1 They accordingly took
Gulburga in August, 1677. Aurangjeb, however,
was not satisfied with this as Gulburga had
originally belonged to Bijapur and he asked
1. PS 1965, Surat, 3rd August 1677; ER II 245, p. 134.

294 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

Bahadurkhan to recover one crore of rupees from
Govalkonda for allowing Shivaji to pass through
its territory and even for assisting him 1 . Goval-
konda, of course, refused this exhorbitant demand
and prepared to fight. It was aided by the Siddi
party at Bijapur which was opposed to Bahilol-
khan. An indecisive battle was fought in which,
however, the Moguls suffered great loss. Baha-
durkhan was suspected of having been bribed by
Govalkonda 2 and he was hastily sent for from
Delhi. 3 Dilerkhan, his fighting and energetic
second, was made the Suba of the Deccan in Bha-
drapad ( J ) and he gave a battle to the three com-
bined combatants, Sarjekhan, Masaudkhan and
the Bhaganagar Sarlashkar, in Ashvin at Malc-
khind ; but he also was defeated and he had to re-
tire to Naldurg (J). Thus while Shivaji was operat-
ing in Karnatak, Bijapur and the Moguls were
unitedly but unsuccessfully fighting with Goval-
konda and the Siddi party in Bijapur who were its
friends. Shivaji thus easily plundered Gadag and
Lakshmeshwar in October, as reported in a Bombay
letter, dated 29th October 4 . A Govalkonda English

1. PS 1973, Govalkonda English letter, 19th September,
1677; ER II 250, p. 136.

2. PS 1973; ER II 250, p. 137.

3. PS 1979, Swali. 1st October, 1677; ER II 254, p. 139.
4- PS 1990; ER II 262, p. 145.

DOUBLE SUCCESS OF DILERKHAN'S DIPLOMACY 295

letter 1 speaks of further fights at about the same
time between the Moguls assisted by Bahilolkhan
on one side and the Sarlashkar of Govalkonda
on the other. Shivaji held himself ready to move
on Bijapur as reported in a letter from Fort St.
George, dated 20th November. 2 But in the next
month there was a sudden change at Bijapur.
Bahilolkhan Pathan died of wounds received in
battle. Rajapur letter stated on 8th December 3
that Dilerkhan was also in a sad plight* J also
notes that in December, Pathan Bahilolkhan died
and he was succeeded by Masaudkhan ( of the
Deccan party ) in the regency. It seems that Bahi-
lolkhan before his death set about effecting recon-
ciliation with the Deccani party so that both might
fight Shivaji. 4 Shivaji was at this time at Hubli
demanding chauth from the subedar, which he
eventually paid by levying contributions from the
inhabitants* The English refused to pay and their
property was confiscated. 5 Masaudkhan obtained
possession of the fort of Bijapur by a stratagem
and thought of combining with Govalkonda and
driving out Dilerkhan from the Deccan. Shivaji,

1. PS 1989, dated 28th October ; ER II 261, p. 144.

2. PS 1995 ; ER 11 264. p. 146.

3. PS 1998 ;ER II 266.

4. PS 2000, Karwar, 13th December ; also PS 2013.

5. PS 2038, Karwar, 5th May 1678; ER II 296, p. 162.

296 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

therefore, retired to Panhala after taking the fort
of Bankapur, as reported in Rajapur letter, dated
3rd April. 1 Dilerkhan had already retired towards
Pedgaon, as reported in Rajapur letter of 28th
February, 1678. 2

Dilerkhan, however, was strong in diplomacy
also and during the rainy season he set about
creating a change of opinion both in Bijapur and
at Panhala. While Masaudkhan was upto this
time friendly towards Shivaji, he was induced by
Dilerkhan to consent to terms originally settled
with Khavaskhan and to give the Sultan's sister
in marriage to a son of Aurangjeb. Hostilities,
therefore, again began between Bijapur and Shivaji
and Sarjekhan took Athni and Raibag and drove
away Shiva ji's men from there, in June 1678 3 . We
may shortly relate the subsequent events at Bija-
pur from Duff. The Afghan party there had a
dislike to the Deccani party, but a still greater
dislike to the Moguls. The Mogul envoy demand-
ed Padshah Begum as the only means of avoid-
ing an immediate advance on and siege of Bijapur.
A battle between the opposing factions in the
centre of the city was imminent, when the king's
sister herself repaired to the spot and declared

1. PS 2030 ; ER 11 292, p. 160.

2. PS 2019 ;ER 11 283, p. 157.

3. PS 2046, Rajapur, 20th June 78$ ER II 303, p. 165.

DOUBLE SUCCESS OF DILERKHAN'S DIPLOMACY 297

her intention of proceeding to the Mogul camp
41 vainly but generously imagining that by this
sacrifice, her brother and his kingdom might be
saved." She reached Dilerkhan's camp and a
fitting escort was furnished her to conduct her to
Aurangabad. This event happened about Febru-
ary, 1679.

Dilerkhan succeeded in another direction also
in creating a defection. Sambhaji had been con-
fined at Panhala as a punishment for attempting
" to violate the person of the wife of a Brahmin. "
( Duff ). This is also referred to in a Bombay
letter already noted. Shivaji was so strict and
strong in his respect for women that, like Mahmud
of Ghazni, he would not spare even his son if he
offended in this respect. Sambhaji was put in confine-
ment at Panhala and though subsequently released
from Panhala he was kept under strict surveil-
lance at Parali. Dilerkhan succeeded in approach-
ing Sambhaji at this place and induced him to
come over to him and accept a man sab under
Delhi. J records that Sambhaji escaped from
Parali on Pausha Buddha 10, S' 1600 ( 13th
December 1678), and went to Dilerkhan who
honourably received him and made him a mansab-
dar of 7,000 horse. This must have been a kind
of sword -thrust into Shiva ji's heart. The ill
omens which occurred after this event are recorded

298 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

by J in three notes. The energetic Dattajipant
Waknis died fifteen days after and there was an
earthquake on Magh Vadya 10, i. e. 25th January
1679. On Phalgun Vadya 1 or 25th February 1679,
Ajmer was invested by Aurangjeb in person and a
campaign was launched against the Rana of Udaipur .
Dilerkhan, with the help of Sambhaji, according
to Duff, advanced against Bhopalgad and took
that fort in Vais'akh S'2 (2nd April 1679,]). These
successes of Dilerkhan were, however, not even-
tually fruitful, as we shall see in the next chapter.
Shivaji's personal movements in the fighting
season of 1679 (November 1678 to June 1679)
cannot be determined. Probably, he was too pained
at Sambhaji's defection to himself move about ; but
he was undaunted and his generals were on the
alert. J records that Moropant Peshwa took the
fort of Kopal ( which had probably revolted
against Shivaji in the new state of things at Bija-
pur ), with the help of Husseinkhan Mayena's son
and set at liberty Husseinkhan himself ( who had
probably been confined there) on Chaitra S'. Prati-
pada S' 1601 or 3rd March 1679. So also Balapur
was taken by Anandrao the senior, on Rama-
navmi day or 1 1th March.

Contemporary corroborating evidence may be finally
noticed. The change of front at Bijapur against Shivaji
is noted in a letter of the English from Athni, dated 31st

DOUBLE SUCCESS OF DILERKHAN'S DIPLOMACY 299

August 1678 V in which it is stated that Shivaji would be
attacked by Bijapur within a month or two ( ER II 325,
p. 178). So also Karwar wrote on 12th November that Jara-
sherkhan was at Bankapur with a large army, but Shivaji
had assembled his army at Panhala ( estimated at 20,000
foot and 1 5,000 horse ). Jamsherkhan was waiting for
reinforcements from Bijapur before attacking Shiva ji (PS
2084; ER 11 343, p. 189). Bombay wrote on December 18,
that Shivaji had surrounded the Siddi in Danda Rajapuri
both by land and water. ( PS 2087 ; ER II 348, p. 191 ).
The Siddi was unable to move out. Swali Consultation
Record, dated 24th January 1679, states that the Adilshahi
people sought the help of the English for takins: Shivaji's
forts, but they declined as they intended to remain
neutral. ( PS 2090 ; ER II 357, p. 193). Surat, on 17th
February 1679, reported that the eldest son of Aurangjeb
had arrived near Aurangabad with a large force to fight
with Shivaji and that Adilshahi had obtained a victory
over Shivaji. ( PS 2092 ; ER II 352, p. 11 3 ). But it adds
that the greatest thing that has disheartened him is that
his son Sambhaji had gone to Dilerkhan. But Bombay
wrote on 10th March 1679 that Shivaji remained undaunt-
ed at Panhala and cared not for either the Shahjada or
Sambhaji and defied both the Mogul and the king of Bija-
pur. (PS 2099; ER II 355, p. 195). Bombay wrote on 4th
April 1679 that Shivaji himself plundered Shahapur near
Bijapur; probably Shivaji had only sent one of his
captains (PS 2101; ER II 356, p. 175). Masulipattan wrote
on 11th May that Bijapur and the Moguls were going to
attack Shivaji. (PS 2108; ER II 362. p. 198). So also did
Bombay on 29th July. It appears from Bombay 21st May
that Sambhaji and the Deccani army had besieged
Panhala (which is a mistake for Bhopalgad). (PS 21 10).

XXXVII. THE LAST GREAT EXPLOIT
OF SHIVAJI

Masaudkhan and Sambhaji became the enemies
of Shivaji through the diplomacy of Dilerkhan*
They soon became his friends through the treachery
of Aurangjeb. Aurangjeb was not satisfied with the
generous self-sacrifice of the princess of Bijapur,
and directed Dilerkhan to bring the kingdom under
full subjection. Perhaps, he would not forego
tribute for eight years* Similarly, in his suspicion of
everybody, he thoughtthat Sambhaji would do harm
and he thus asked Dilerkhan to send Sambhaji as
prisoner to Delhi. We have seen that he had on a
previous occasion similarly ordered the arrest of
Niraji and his horsemen who were serving the
Moguls at Aurangabad in behalf of Sambhaji
himself, when he had previously been made a man-
sabdar at the request of Shivaji. But, as on that
occasion Niraji was forewarned, so was Sambhaji
given a hint by Dilerkhan and allowed to escape.

At the conclusion of the rainy season, Diler-
khan thus under orders from Delhi advanced upon
Bijapur and laid siege to that city in As'vin, S'.
1601 or October 1679 ( J ). DagRegister, dated 21
November, speaks of Dilerkhan's having'crossed

THE LAST GREAT EXPLOIT OF SHIVAJI 301

the Bhima (he was encamped at Pedgaon on the
north bank of the Bhima) and advancing on Bijapur
reaching a spot about 9 miles from it. 1 Masaudkhan
sought the help of Shivaji against this impending
invasion and the latter sent his vakil Shamji
Naik Punde to Bijapur on Bhadrapada S'uddha 1st
or 26th August 1679 (J) to settle a treaty. A
treaty was accordingly settled in Kartik ( Novem-
ber ) and Shivaji started on a long plundering ex-
pedition in Mogul territory in order to create a
diversion. Rajapur reported on 16th October 1679
that Shivaji had concluded a peace with the
Deccanis ( at Bijapur ) and gone somewhere with
his whole army. 2 Shivaji crossing the Bhima car-
ried fire and sword in the Mogul dominion in
November (J), " leaving inhabitants houseless and
the villages in ashes*' ( Duff ). He went as far as
Jalna and plundered that prosperous town ( J )
leisurely for four days ( Duff ). Laden with booty
Shivaji was returning, when Ranamastakhan with
ten thousand horse overtook him under orders of
prince Muajjam who remained at Aurangabad. A
fierce battle was fought near Sangamner ( J ) in
which, *' by the impetuosity of Santaji Ghorpade,
confusion was caused " (Duff) and Sidho ji Nimbal-
kar was killed by a bullet (J). But Shivaji himself
led a charge and by personal exertion retrieved
1. PS 2181. 2. PS 2142; ER II 793, p. 207.

302 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

the day. This may be looked upon as the last great
exploit of Shiva ji himself in a pitched battle against
the Moguls, * who were signally defeated ' ( Duff ).
Shiva ji continued his march, but he was again inter-
cepted by a second and more powerful army sent
by prince Muajjam under Kishansingh (a son of
Ramsingh and grandson of Jaisingh), at the foot of
a pass through which Shivaji had to go. Sabhasad
gives an interesting account of how Shivaji succeed-
ed in safely reaching Raigad with all his treasure
without a fight. " The Mogul force led by Kishan-
singh, Sardarkhan and other captains was at a
distance of six or seven miles and Shivaji thought
of making two divisions of his army, one to come
slowly with the treasure after the other, led by
himself But Bahirji Jasud ( messenger ), who was
the most intelligent and well-informed scout in
Shivaji's service, promised to take Shivaji by another
pass, avoiding the Moguls altogether. Strenuously
marching for three nights, he took Shivaji to Patta-
gad. Bombay letter of 29th November 1 speaks of
Shivaji's being at Patta about five days' journey from
Bombay (60 miles ), but adds wrongly that he had
been defeated by Dilerkhan at Bijapur. Perhaps
this was a defeat of a section of Hambirrao's force
which was engaged in cutting off the supplies of
Dilerkhan.

L PS 2185 ;ER II 447, p. 262.

THE LAST GREAT EXPLOIT OF SHIVAJI 303

During the two months of October and Novem-
ber 1679, while Shivaji was plundering the east,
his general Moropant Peshwa was laying waste
Khandesh and thus distracting the attention of
prince Muajjam in the north. Surat wrote on 8th
December, that Shivaji had burnt and plundered
Dharangaon, Chopda and other neighbouring
places. 1 The English writing from Dharangaon
itself on 12th December mention Shiva ji's force as
consisting of 1 2,000 horse and state that though the
Company's property was saved, the town was
plundered and burnt. The army went towards
Burhanpur but turning southwards, it went towards
Malkapur to join Shivaji who was there with a
force of 20 thousand horse. 2 The English even
report that the prince intended to rebel against his
father Aurangjeb with the help of Shivaji.

While at Raigad, Shivaji was glad to learn in
the beginning of January 1680 that Sambhaji
had returned and was at Panhala. We find al-
ready in the Rajapur letter noted in the last
chapter, dated 16th October, 1679, a report that
Dilerkhan and Sambhaji had together plundered
the town of Athni and taken many citizens as
prisoners and that while returning, there was a dis-
agreement between them on the question of releasing

1. PS 2190 ; ER II 447, p. 262.

2. PS 2194 ;ER II 460, p. 271.

304 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

the men arrested, whereupon Sambhaji with three
hundred horse and one thousand foot went to-
wards Kolhapur. This was probably the pretext
put forth by him for leaving Dilerkhan. After some
days, Sambhaji finding his opportunity appeared
at Panhala in Margashirsh or December (J). Shivaji
saw his son at Panhala on Paush Vaidya 7 or 1 3th
January 1680 ( J ) and was glad to see him safely
come out from the jaws of Aurangjeb. Sabhasad
gives in detail the conversation which took place
between the son and the father which, however,
seems to us to be imaginary.

In spite of the miseries which Shivaji was in-
flicting on the Mogul Deccan territory, Dilerkhan
did not relinquish the siege of Bijapur but pressed it
on, though his supplies were constantly cut off by
Hambirrao. Bijapur was hard pressed and sent for
help from Govalkonda asking it to attack the be-
siegers; but Dilerkhan threatened Govalkonda
which, thereupon, desisted. But it secretly sent
money to Shivaji and asked him to assist Bijapur
with men. Shivaji did it so well that Bijapur was
enabled to successfully resist the siege. Eventually
Dilerkhan had to make peace with Bijapur and
raised the siege in Magh or the end of January (J).
Duff relates that Shivaji, as the price of his
help to Bijapur, asked for the cession of the tract
around Kopal and Bellary ( a tract conquered by

THE LAST GREAT EXPLOIT OF SHIVAJI 305

himself and by Hambirrao and Janardanpant, as
related already ). He also demanded the cession
of all claims to sovereignty on his conquered terri-
tory in Dravid ( Jinji ) and to Tanjore and the
jagir districts of Shahaji ( Kolar, Bangalore etc. ).
These requests were conceded by Bijapur, and
Shivaji became the independent master of a large
tract about Kopal and beyond the Tungabhadra,
of Jinji and the neighbouring territory of Tanjore,
and of Kolar and Bangalore, in all of territory
probably worth fifty lakhs of hons yearly. Duff
states that Shivaji then went to the neighbourhood
of the city of Bijapur and had an interview and
secret consultation with Masaudkhan.

It is related by Duff that Dilerkhan after rais-
ing the siege of Bijapur crossed the Krishna and
laid the territory about Gadag under fire and sword.
This was probably in retaliation for what Shivaji
had done to the Mogul territory. He was, however,
signally defeated by Hambirrao and Janardanpant
who were kept by Shivaji in charge of Karnatak,
and who crossing the Tungabhadra attacked him in
the Gadag Prant- We find a confirmation of this
invasion in a Karwar letter dated 18th March, 1680, 1
which states that a Mogul force 1 5,000 strong assisted
oy Sar jekhan, head of the Bijapur army, has come
to take back all the places seized by Shivaji and the
forts of Kopal and other places have been besieged.
s.zo 1. PS 2235 ; ER II 496, p. 308.

306 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

It is interesting to find a corroboration of the above
whole account in a letter of Shivaji himself written to
his brother Vyankoji, presumably to inform him that he
was now the master of all the acquired territory in
Karnatak Prant, and Vyankoji now held Tanjore under
Shivaji. The substance of this long letter is as follows: -
" Dilerkhan seeing Bijapur weak advanced against it.
Crossing the Bhima, he approached Bijapur within eight
miles. Khan Alishan Masaudkhan asked for help from us
and we immediately came to Panhala and assembling all
the available forces went towards Bijapur. We thought,
however, that the enemy was obstinate and a Pathan be-
sides, and that he must be routed by artifice. We, there-
fore, left Dilerkhan at a distance of three villages ( three
marches ), crossed the Bhima and went as far as Jalna
laying the country waste. The bazar of Jalnapur was
plundered for four days in spite of the fact that the prince
was at Aurangabad only four villages distant (four marches).
Gold, silver, elephants and horses were seized. We
then came to Patta. Ranamastakhan, Asafkhan, Jabita-
khan, with other Umraos and with eight or ten thousand
horse, came to oppose us; but'they were adequately punish-
ed. We then sent an army again to harass Mogul
territory* Moropant Peshwa was asked to take the 27
forts of the Moguls in Baglan and Khandesh. In the
meanwhile, Khan Alishan ( Masaudkhan ) wrote from
Bijapur that he was still pressed by Dilerkhan who had
even reached the hot and that we should help him at once
in order to preserve the Padshahi. We came again to
Panhala and helped him with men and money. After
calling together the dispersed forces, we sent them against
Dilerkhan. These cut off stragglers and the supplies

THE LAST GREAT EXPLOIT OF SHIVAJI 307

of Dilerkhan. Ranamastakhan and others started from
Aurangabad to help Dilerkhan ; but they were beaten
and levelled to dust and pursued back to Auranga-
bad. Our forces then again surrounded Dilerkhan. Moro-
pant meanwhile took Ahivantgad which is a fort as big
as Panhala and also Nahavagad in Baglan. Aurangjeb
heard this as also the account how we plundered Jalna and
defeated Ranamastakhan. He, therefore, being enraged
sent orders upon orders to Dilerkhan ; but Dilerkhan
eventually had to raise the siege. Khan Alishan fought
bravely to defend the fort of Bijapur. We have made
peace with him by which Hoskot, Bangalore, Arani, Chan-
jaur (Tanjore) etc. have been ceded to us and your connec-
tion is now with us. Hereafter Dilerkhan went towards
Adavani and Karaval, but our general Janardanpant in
that Prant having punished many polygars therein, next
opposed Dilerkhan who with Sarjekhan and Husseinkhan
had come with five thousand horse and beat them back.
Dilerkhan has at present gone to his place, namely,
Pedgaon. Sam bha ji who had gone to the Moguls has re-
turned as he has come to know that he would get nothing
from either the Padshah or Bijapur. We hope you are all
well 5 with many blessings " ( PS 2236 )

Thus successful everywhere and happy in
every respect, Shivaji celebrated the marriage
ceremony of his second son Rajaram at Raigad on
Phalgun Vadya, 10,S'. 1601 or 13th March, 1680 (J).
Eight days before marriage, the munja or initiation
ceremony of Rajaram was performed. He was
married to a daughter of Prataprao Gujar, the
late commander-in-chief of Shivaji, whose loss

308 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

was greatly mourned by him and whose services
were thus appreciated and rewarded by him after
his death.

After this joyous event, Shivaji lived only
twenty days. He was seized with a deadly malady
reported as blood diarrhoea in a Bombay letter, 1
and he expired after twelve days' illness on
Chaitra S'udha 15, S'. 1602, Saturday (3rd April
1680 ) at Raigad about noon, Surusan-samanin.
J records naturally enough, in detail, this date
and time of the most important but mournful event
in the history of the Marathas- Thus passed
away this great hero in the 51st year of his age
( 50 years and 2 months ), and after 35 years of
strenuous exertions which were always successful
and which never met with any disaster, fulfil-
ling fully the mission of his life, namely, the estab-
lishment of a Hindu independent kingdom*

1. PS 2253 ; ER II 504, p. 31 1. " Shivaji died, it is
said, of a bloody flux, being sick 12 days ".

XXXVIII. SHIVAJI'S CHARACTER:
ASPERSIONS ANSWERED

Now that we are at the end of our treatise,
we will draw the attention ol the reader to what
we said about Shiva ji in the beginning. " Shiva ji
was one of the greatest heroes of the world, by
his exploits, his intrepidity, his resourcefulnesst
his undaunted courage in difficult positions, his
continuous success and, last but not least, his
unique moral greatness as a respecter of women
and places of worship in an age when temples
were being demolished everywhere and women
were being constantly seized and sold as slaves
by Mahomedans* " Every one of these qualities
of this great hero of Maharashtra has been brought
out in the foregoing pages. These qualities are
rarely found together in one man and it is but
natural that Shivaji should be looked upon by
Marathas as an incarnation of Vishnu or S'iva.
The three accepted characteristics of an Avatara
are great exploits, high morality and full success in
the Avatara's mission. These three are found in
the life of Shivaji and the belief of the common
people in Maharashtra was thus natural.

The mission of Shiva ji's life was not an
ordinary one but one of the highest, namely, free-

310 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

ing his countrymen from bondage to a foreign
foe and faith. It is this which gives the greater
glow to the achievement of Shivaji and necessarily
to the story of his life. The story of a nation's
struggle for independence carried to success is
ever thrilling and ennobling ; for freedom is the
most precious possession of a people and the
spectacle of the struggle of a people striving to
attain freedom from slavery is a sacred sight.

While thus the inspiring aim of Shivaji's life
is holy, the many incidents in it are so varied that
they might be looked upon as forming the continuous
episode of a romance. We have often said that
Shivaji derived his inspiration from the Maha-
bharata and it is interesting to note that his life also,
full as it is of thrilling incidents, resembles the Maha-
bharata, which narrates the struggle of the Pandavas
to get back their Swaraj from the wily and power-
ful Kauravas. It is still more interesting to note
that many actions of Shivaji, like many actions
of the Pandavas, have formed the subject of
adverse criticism. Indeed, the Mahabharata con-
tains several incidents which (strike us at first sight
as condemnable, but which are really justifiable,
if we examine their character from the deeper
principles of ethics. It is in fact the merit of
the Mahabharata that, unlike the Ramayana, it
illustrates the exceptional rules of moral conduct

SHIVAJI'S CHARACTER : ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 311

which we y in this world, full of both good and bad
men, are justified in observing. Shivaji, like Shri-
krishna, has suffered in the estimation of many, for
this very reason and it is first necessary, before we
praise Shivaji, to explain the propriety of Shivaji's
apparently wrong conduct, influenced as it was
by the maxims of the Mahabharata itself and to
show that the charges often brought against him
cannot be sustained.

Duff, for example, while acknowledging all
the good points in Shiva ji's character observes :-
" Shivaji was patient and thoughtful in his plans ;
ardent, resolute and persevering in their execution ;
but duplicity and meanness are intermixed with
his schemes. Superstition, cruelty and treachery
are justly alleged against him and he always
preferred deceit to open force when both were in
his power. " Deceit and treachery are the usual
charges brought against Shivaji by many other
writers also and we will examine these charges
in the light of what has been said in the preced-
ing chapters.

We must, however, first point out that these
charges have, in many cases, no -foundation in
fact and are based on statements in later accounts.
The later Bakhars thus have multiplied instances
of Shivaji's use of deceit, from their natural
predilection to exaggerate. Indeed, Shivaji has

312 SHIVA JI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

suffered, as well from friends as from foes.
We must, therefore, first ascertain and make sure
that our criticism is based on authentic facts.
For example, take the story that Shivaji, in order
to seize the jagir of Javali, sent an emissary to
Chandrarao More to ask for his daughter in
marriage and the envoy, while conversing with
Chandrarao, stabbed and murdered him. This
story of the Bakharkars is now proved to be a
myth, as we have shown in our chapter, " The
Supposed More Murders. " In fact, Chandrarao
had no daughter and Chandrarao was not murdered*
In cases where Shivaji used deceit, as recorded
in the above pages, he was certainly justified
in doing it; for he always used deceit against
an enemy and when at war with him. Deceit
and the consequent surprise have always been
used with effect in every war and by almost
every commander in western as well as eastern
countries. The maxim that an enemy may be
killed either by deceit or open attack is preached
in hundreds o places in the Mahabharata itself. 4 '
When Duff says that Shivaji used deceit in
preference to open force where hoth were in his
power, he seems to condemn Shivaji. But this
view is not correct. Deceit in such cases is not
VIM! W 5^ I

TF. TV

SHIVAJI'S CHARACTER : ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 313

condemnable, as ,it involves less toil and less spill-
ing of blood. No doubt, the ancient Aryans of
India disdained the use of deceit in fighting.
There was then what was called " Dharmayuddha **
or righteous fighting. They even declined to
take advantage of the enemy being in a bad
plight, e. g. when he had broken his weapon or
had got down from his chariot or had lost his
armour and so on. But these ancient ideas were
first set aside by Shrikrishna who set the example
of using deceit in fighting. By his advice, Bhishma
was killed by Ar juna by the artifice of placing
S'ikhandi before him. Drona was next killed by
Dhristadyumna while he had laid down his arms
in meditation. Since these examples, it has become a
maxim accepted in India as in the west and follow*
ed by all people and at all times, that * everything
is fair in war** It is strange that Duff, himself a mili-
tary officer, makes a charge against Shivaji for
using deceit in war in preference to open force.

It may be noted that deceit develops into trea-
chery when used in times of peace and against
friends or when a truce has been settled or a white
flag has been shown* So far as we have seen,
no instance can be found in Shivaji's life where
deceit had thus developed into treachery. In the
case of Afzalkhan, both he and Shivaji were using
deceit as enemies and both were talking of peace.

314 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MAEATHA SWARAJ

Indeed, Shivaji was on his defensive and the
matter would have ended quite differently, had
Afzalkhan not first thrust his dagger into Shivaji's
side. We have contemporary evidence to show
that Afzalkhan had received secret orders from
Bijapur to seize Shivaji dead or alive. 1 Shivaji's
success in that tussle was due to his caution, as he
had an armour on and Afzalkhan in his overween-
ing confidence had none. It is not a case of trea-
chery, therefore, when Afzalkhan was killed by
Shivaji. Historians ought to use the words deceit
and treachery carefully. A similar mistake is
committed when the word ' murder ' is carelessly
used sometimes like the word 4 treachery'. For
murder is different from * killing ' or ' putting to
death', ' killing' being used when death ensues in
a fight, and * putting to death' when an order of
superior authority is given, either judicial or political.
Furthermore, deceit is not only justifiable but
recommendable when the adversary is stronger and
is himself doing an act of aggression. We are
often apt to forget that when Shivaji, by some
deceit, entered at mid-night Shaistekhan's camp, the
latter with an overwhelming force had taken
possession of Shivaji's country and of his town
and even palace. This act of Shaistekhan was an

1. Dag Register A. Selections from Dutch Records,
Wadekar, S. N.IIU.

SHIVAJl'S CHARACTER : ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 315

act of gross injustice ; but we forget it and we are
tempted to complain of Shivaji's action only as
deceit or even treachery. Open aggression by an
enemy, simply because he is strong and has a
powerful army, is not excusable;* is indeed more re-
prehensible than the adversary's entering enemy's
camp by deceit and inflicting injuries on him.

Further still, it must be remembered that the
Mahomedans, in their dealings with Hindu king-
doms, freely used deceipt. Indeed, both Bi japur and
Delhi often used deceipt, even at this time, with
success against polygars in Karnatak and Rajput
chiefs in Northern India, not to speak of Shivaji-
The history of the Mahomedan conquest of
India contains many instances of the use of deceit
with success by the Mahomedans. It was an item
of Mahomedan belief at the time that a covenant
with a Hindu was not binding and that rules of
morality might be set at naught in dealings with
the Kafirs. We know how Bakhtyarkhan Khilji,
with only 18 horsemen, entered the town of Nadia,
capital of Bengal, alleging that he was a dealer in
horses, and reaching the palace without challenge,
suddenly attacked and killed the guards -men there.
Lakshmansena the king had to flee and the city
was taken. We also know how Allauddin Khilji,
with a small force only, took the city of Deogiri

Mbh.

316 8HIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

deceitfully and compelled Ramchandrarao Jadhav
to pay tribute. If deceit can be used against an
innocent enemy, it cannot be wrong to use deceit
against an enemy using deceit- The Mahabharata*
properly teaches that those who use deceit may
be met with deceit and it follows that deceit may
be used against open aggression. One is reminded
here of the popular story of a Pathan and a Hindu.
The Pathan who is usually a dacoit, meeting a Hindu
alone in a jungle, suddenly attacked him and threw
him down. The Hindu fell as if dead ; but when
the Pathan was pilfering him, he suddenly took out
a hidden dagger and stabbed the Pathan. The
latter, as he fell, cried, * Oh, the treacherous Kafir ! '
Morally speaking the Pathan is the really condem-
nable person of the two. Pilfering cannot be ex-
cused because it is open nor can a clandestine attack
on a pilferer be condemned. Deceit, therefore, is
lawful when used in self-defence against deceit or
open aggression and cannot be treated as treachery.

Duff is unquestionably wrong when he charges
Shivaji with treachery or duplicity* When Shivaji
gave out that he was proceeding against the
western coast, while he really intended to go
against the eastern coast, he is no doubt using
deceit, but deceit which is justifiable, as it
secures a surprise attack on an enemy. Shivaji

* * ' Mbh.

SHIVAJI'S CHARACTER: ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 317

often gave out that he was going against Surat
and in fact went against some other town and
effectively surprised it. The use of deceit by Shiva ji
in this manner with great success on several
occasions strikes us strongly and leads us to think
wrongly that Shivaji used duplicity. Neither trea-
chery nor duplicity can be charged against Shivaji
according to the accepted maxims of war, on all
such occasions.

The idea that Shivaji was superstitious is
based on the accounts in Bakhars, as to how
Shivaji would fall in a trance while praying and
would utter words unconsciously, indicating that
his future action was sanctioned by the goddess
Durga, his tutelary deity. This, however, is not
corroborated by any contemporary document and
must, therefore, be rejected. This would even
amount to deceit, according to present-day notions*
But Shivaji was incapable of any such mean
deception. He was, no doubt, a devout Hindu
and believed that Durga was behind him ; and in
times of difficulty he might have often prayed to
her, as Mahmud did to God when about to engage
in action. But this cannot be called superstition.
The charge of meanness has still less foundation.
Shivaji no doubt exacted full rendering of account
regarding plunder, as plunder was one of the
means of keeping a large army and was treated

318 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

as a regular business for it. But Shiva ji was not
also slow to reward* He gave a lakh of rupees to
Gagabhat at the coronation and one lakh of hons
to Raghunathpant at the conclusion of his Karnatak
expedition. Generous reward along with stern
punishment is a necessary qualification of a suc-
cessful leader and Shivaji was always generous
when necessary. Lastly, the charge of cruelty is
quite unfounded. We have already refuted it
when speaking of the sack of Surat. Even the
Historians' History of the World admits that
Shivaji was never cruel for cruelty's sake. Shivaji
was never cruel to the subjects of other territories
whom he plundered and to his own subjects he
was always kind, though he had often to deal
stern justice to delinquents.

This brings us to the heavier and apparently
well-founded charge against Shivaji, namely, con-
stantly plundering towns and villages in Mogul
and Bijapur territories and thus inflicting unde-
served misery on the innocent people of those
kingdoms. They no doubt suffered for no fault of
their own ; and this earned for Shivaji bad epithets,
even in his own time in contemporary letters
such as 'the accursed dacoit' and so on. Modern
historians also have usually stigmatised Shivaji
not only as a murderer, but also as a marauder.
We have already refuted the charge of murder

SHIVAJl'S CHARACTER : ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 319

against Shivaji as being entirely unfounded,
Afzalkhan was not murdered but was killed
in a personal conflict. Chandrarao More was
never murdered. He was killed in battle. His
two sons were * put to death ' for treason ; having
accepted pardon and service under Shivaji they
should not have secretly sought the help of
Bijapur. The charge of murder against Shivaji
thus fails altogether; but the charge of plunder
cannot be thus refuted ; for it is true that Shivaji
did constantly plunder and did continuously harass
the people under Delhi and Bijapur. Indeed,
every year Shivaji had a plundering expedition
in their territories and his large army was chiefly
maintained by plunder. It was even a regular
business for it in the fighting season when actual
fighting was not on hand.

But even here Shivaji's conduct cannot be
condemned, if we consider it from the accepted
principles or laws of war. It must be remembered
that Shivaji always plundered enemies only
and when he was at war with them* Plunder
and devastation are the sine qua non of war at
all times and among all nations. The right of
the stronger to plunder the enemy people has
always been conceded. In modern times, it is con*
sidered properly to be the right of the people to de-
clare war; for they have to suffer its consequences

320 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

as well as to enjoy its fruits. But in former times
and under despotic governments, the kings declared
war according to their will, being considered the
masters of their territory and even of the people.
The people had consequently to suffer for the
wrong acts of their kings. But as the kings re-
presented the people, the people had no real right
to complain. Moreover, it was then a maxim that a
strong nation can attack and destroy a weak neigh-
bour. It is only since the last great European
war that the right of a weak nation to enjoy inde-
pendence has been recognised and no strong nation
can now attack a weak neighbour, at least in
Europe. We must, therefore, first remember that
the Mogul Shahjahan or the Bijapur Adilshah had,
morally speaking, no right to attack Shivaji's terri-
tory and if they did, Shiva ji had a right to plunder
their territory and people in return. These are plain
positions and were understood even in those days
when political philosophy had not been fully pro-
pounded. Shivaji understood them well enough
when he said to the people of Surat, as already
noted, " Your king has compelled me to keep a
large army by constantly invading my country and
you must pay for the upkeep of that army. " It is
really strange that an invasion of a foreign country
and its temporary occupation by a foe do not
strike us as reprehensible, while plundering does.

SHIVAJl'S CHARACTER: ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 321

Regular occupation of a territory by an enemy is,
however, an organised and systematic spoliation
and is as reprehensible, if not more, as plundering
which is only a sporadic evil in which people are
not subjected to continuous harassment or drain
of resources. We ought not, therefore, to forget
that Shiva ji plundered only when he was at war
with the Moguls or the Bijapuris and levied fine
from their people for the aggressions of their sov-
ereigns. Indeed, the system of chauth introduced
by Shivaji, as a substitute for plunder, was only
the exaction of one fourth of the revenue to be
paid to the king and thus it was a fine on the
sovereign and not on the people.

Shivaji's plundering strikes us forcibly, also
because it was constant and always successful,
and we are thus tempted to call him a dacoit. The
following observations in our History of Mediaeval
Hind India, Vol. Ill (p. 108), are worth quoting
here in this connection '

" Two persons have suffered much in this
way in being called bandits by historians.
Mahmud and Shivaji have usually been called
bandits and plunderers, in consequence of the
large number of their plundering expeditions and
their uniform success. But we forget that, correct-
ly speaking, neither Mahmud nor Shivaji can
be called a bandit or dacoit. The right of belli-

S. 2!

322 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

gerents to plunder the enemy has been recognised
even in the west. Plundering weakens the weaker
nation's power of defence and increases the
stronger's power of offence. England herself
has plundered enemies many a time* Drake and
Hawkins plundered the ships of Spain carrying
gold from America to Spain, when England was
at war with the latter country. Drake even
plundered the cities of Chili and Peru without
the excuse of war and he has not been stigmatized
by English historians as a bandit. The British
have plundered the French at Pondicherry*
in Indian History and have both massacred and
plundered the townspeople of Jhansi when that
city fought and stood a siege in the mutiny of 1857.
And yet these acts cannot legally and even moral-
ly be described or denounced as dacoities or
murders. Mahmud or Shivaji never plundered
their own subjects. Shivaji so far recognised his
duty as a king that he recompensed his subjects,
whenever his own soldiers or even the soldiers of
an enemy plundered them. "

The Historians' History of the World is candid
enough to remark that it " is just to state that this

* Of this plunder H* H. of W. observes, " And
plunder enough was received .by the ravaging of the
neighbouring settlements to pay the expenses of the
expedition/' ( XXV11I, p. 187 ). The usual object in
plundering is here plainly given.

SHIVAJI'S CHARACTER: ASPERSIONS ANSWERED 323

extraordinary man, while devastating other lands,
was not unmindful of the duty he owed to his
own subjects-' 9 Thus Duff records that when Ghatge
and Nimbalkar entered the Panhala district and
laid it waste, plundering it and retiring towards
Karhad, a detachment of Shivaji's army under
Niloji Katkar overtook them at Korlie and dis-
persed them, recovering much valuable property.
" As it belonged to his own subjects, Shivaji
scrupulously restored it to his people. "

Some historians attempt to extenuate Shivaji's
plundering and even his supposed murdering, by
the maxim, " The end justifies the means. " The
high purpose of establishing Swaraj justified, they
think, even murder; and some look upon plunder-
ing as a kind of taking forced loans. But even
the highest purpose, we think, cannot justify
what is undoubtedly illegal and immoraL Political
assassinations are always to be deprecated. In
ancient times a sentence of death on an obnoxious
person was no doubt pronounced, but it was open*
ly pronounced by the people in public meeting
assembled. Forced loans again had to be return-
ed. Shivaji's actions cannot, we think, be excused
on this maxim.

It is more proper to argue that Shivaji, even
though he plundered incessantly, was justified in
doing so by the laws of war sanctioned by all

324 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

people and in all ages, as he only plundered enemy
territories and when at war and he went further
than all his compeers when he observed strictly the
humane rule that cows, cultivators and women
were to be exempt from plunder, as recorded by
even the Historians' History of the World, Vol.
XXIII, That this was Shivaji's own view also is
proved by an English letter from Surat dated 2 1
June 1673 1 . When the English complained of, and
asked compensation for, their being plundered
at Hubli, he declared that " he prosecuted a just war
in his enemy's country and if his army in plunder-
ing enemy's towns doth, unknown to him, meddle
with any English people, or the country people
did it, he was in no way liable to answer. " As
a friend, he even advised the English that they
should trade as little as possible in the Deccan, as
he was going to make a sharp war there as soon
as the rains were over. Shivaji thus knew well his
rights and his duties when he plundered people
in enemy country.

1. PS 1545; ER 366, p. 266.

XXXIX. SHIVAJPS GREATNESS

Having thus far shown how Shiva ji is
wrongly charged with deceit or treachery and is
improperly dubbed a dacoit, we proceed to detail
his brilliant capacities, physical, mental and moral.
Shivaji resembled Mahmud in several virtues
and one may say of him what Gibbon has said
of Mahmud : " Turning from accounts of blood-
shed of which unfortunately history is too full,
it is pleasant to stop a while and appreciate the
good qualities of Shivaji, undoubtedly one of the
greatest kings of the world. His name is revered
in Maharashtra, his subjects enjoyed peace and
prosperity and examples are recorded of his justice
and magnanimity." Shivaji, we know, punished his
own son Sambhaji for an atrocious crime, much
as Mahmud was ready to do, but fortunately
had not to do. In the words of Lanepoole again,
we may say that " Shivaji was a great soldier,
a man of infinite courage and indefatigable energy
of body and mind. " Mainwaring says of him,
" His talents as a soldier place him above the
heroes of the East; his personal activity was
astonishing. " Indeed, Shivaji, as a soldier, was
never afraid to go into the thickest fight; and,

326 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

as a general, he was never despondent under the
most adverse circumstances. Shivaji was again
capable of continuous physical as well as mental
exertion. He knew no rest and always moved
about from hills to plains, from hill-forts to ground-
forts, from Maharashtra to Karnatak. In his
long incognito travel through Northern and Middle
India, after his escape from Agra, he showed of
what stuff he was made and what habits of hard
toil he had acquired from his boyhood.

A devout religious Hindu that he was, Shivaji
loved and revered his mother, his father and
his guru. Like Mahmud he was a respecter of
women and we do not read in any account of his
plunders that women were molested, much less seiz-
ed or dishonoured. Like Mahmud also, Shivaji
was a loyal husband and pure in his married life.
This is the greatest glory of a man's character
that, rising to the highest power and prosperity,
he remains pure in^his private life.*

* The story related in later Bakhars may be given
here regarding the beautiful daughter-in-law of the Maho-
ihedan Subedar of Kalyan, taken prisoner and sent to Shivaji
by Abaji Sondeva. It may be mentioned here though not yet
confirmed by a contemporary document. Shivaji not only
treated her as his sister and sent her back to her relatives
with presents, but by this act he set an example to his
generals which guided their conduct in future and which
impressed all with his high spiritual character. If the
story is untrue ( which is likely ) it at least show? what
the people of Maharashtra thought of him*

SHIVAJI'S GREATNESS 327

Shivaji loved his own religion intensely as
Mahmud did his own, but unlike the latter, he was
not intolerant. The only blemish in Mahmud's
character was ( as we have shown in our history
M. H. I. Vol. Ill ) his intolerance which led him to
destroy hundreds of Hindu temples and forcibly to
convert thousands of Hindu inhabitants. Shivaji,
having firm faith in his own religion, still respect-
ed the religions of others, for he not only continued
old grants but made new ones also to fakirs and
mosques throughout his territory. Even contem-
porary Europeans recognised this greatness. Mr.
Dello (Dutch), writing on 6th Jan. 1670, observes
" Shivaji allows all religions to prosper though
himself an idolater.*' 1 He thus in this respect
stands above Mahmud.*

Going on to his talents, we find Shivaji was a
great administrator like Mahmud. Like the latter
he rose from the jagirdarship of a small tract to the
kingship of an extensive kingdom he conquered^ by
his military achievements and he madj
by his just and popular administrati$
territory he introduced at once a cj
administration which though some]
the previous Mahomedan system j

1. PS 1279.

* The case was the reverse undel^M&o&tifaxf and
Portuguese rules. PS 2006; ER II 27 1

328 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

conduced to the prosperity of the people as well
as of the state. His system of Ashtapradhans was
also his own and his revenue system was also
new, as we shall show in detail in the Appendix.
Of course his greater achievement was his army
which was a creation of his own from materials,
insignificant as compared with the material which
Mahmud had, as will be detailed later on. Every
ambitious hero creates a powerful army and ac-
quires dominion with its help. Alexander, Caesar,
Frederick the Great and others in the west, and
Mahmud, Rajaraj Chola and Shivaji in the east are
examples of great heroes, creating invincible armies
and acquiring power and dominion. Shivaji like
Mahmud also created a special force of body-
guards under himself which was composed of select
men with greater pay and position* This force was
used for fierce fighting at the opportune moment.

But greater than this was the keeping of this
powerful force under control. Powerful armies
become a terror sometimes to their master as to the
enemy. Only a great soldier, a consummate com-
mander and a man of unquestioned moral superio-
rity can command influence over an army, influence
so great that every soldier is ready to lay down his
life for the master. One important reason which kept
the soldiers under control was the great care which
Shivaji took for their punctual payment and their

SHIVAJl'S GREATNESS 329

housing. His soldiers were regularly paid so that
their pay was never in arrears. From the days of
the Mahabharata, in Hindu states the pay of the
soldier was fixed in coin and corn and Shivaji saw
to it that these were regularly given directly and not
by way of assignments on districts. The Maha-
bharata itself declares that an army whose pay is
in arrears creates great turmoil and inflicts untold
miseries on the master and the people. Shivaji
knew it not only from the Mahabharata, but from
the examples of it in Mahomedan states of his
own time. We know how in the later decadence
of Maratha power, Arab soldiers whose pay was in
arrears created serious disturbances both at Poona
andat Baroda. Shi vaji's military administration thus
deserves praise especially as such administration is
so rare in Indian history. Modern armies are regu-
larly paid and their system of administration cer-
tainly deserves the highest praise in this connection.
Shivaji's military foresight is also evident in
his building of new forts and strengthening of old
ones. In the hilly country over which he ruled,
forts especially were a power. Forts, whether hill f
ground or island, were useful for defence as well
as offence. Shivaji expended lakhs of hons on his
forts and made them impregnable. Shivaji knew
how to save money*, but he also knew how to

330 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

spend it. Whenever any weak points were dis-
covered in the fortifications, Shivaji built further
strengthening walls as at Sinhgad and Raigad.
Shiva ji's fortifications have been praised by con-
temporary European visitors. Mahomedan armies
always found it difficult to attack these forts and
usually avoided the hilly regions.

Shivaji also saw the necessity of creating a
navy of his own and he actually succeeded in
creating a strong navy. His perseverance in this
respect is proved by the fact that he eventually
succeeded in building a fort on the island of
Khanderi. The English were afraid of Shivaji's
fortifying this island which commanded the en-
trance to the harbour of Bombay. The Siddi of
Janjira (who must be given the credit of obstinately
maintaining his position and his small state against
the continuous effort of Shivaji to subdue or destroy
him) built a fort on Hunderi and he was connived
at in this by the English in Bombay. The Siddi tried
to prevent, with the aid of the English, Shivaji's
attempt to fortify Khanderi. But as reported in a
Bombay record dated March 1680, 1 Shivaji even-
tually succeeded in defeating the English and forti-
fying Khanderi, a few months before his death.

Shivaji, himself an educated man, was a
patron of learned men like his father Shahaji.

1. PS 2229; ER II 489, p. 301.

SHIVAJI'S GREATNESS 331

He had no doubt little leisure to converse with
pandits or hear musicians as his father did, but
his patronage was always extended to learned
men-* Like Mahmud his compeer at whose direc-
tion we know that the Shahanama was completed
by Fardusi, Shivaji asked Paramanand to write a
Sanskrit poem on his doings and the Shiva-Bharata,
as stated in the beginning, was composed by Parama-
nand during Shiva ji's own life. There is another
poem on the taking of the fort of Panhala composed
by Jayarama, a court-poet. Further Bhushan, the
writer of Hindi Savais or heroic verses on Shivaji,
is a well-known author and he was entertained at
Shivaji's court. Then again at the suggestion of
Shivaji himself, the Persian-Sanskrit Kosha or dic-
tionary of political Persian words ordinarily used
in Mar at hi was composed which shows Shivaji's
national spirit and even the names of ministers
were changed by him into corresponding Sanskrit
equivalents. It is really a pity that these facts, now
well-known, should have been forgotten for a

* Indeed from Shahaji's time, there was a tradition
of learning and literacy which came down even to Shivaji.
Shahaji had learned Pandits about him always and even
took part in their* disputations ( see ^T^wr^^^). Shahaji
was also fond of music and himself composed p work on
music ( Sangita-Saramrita ). South India is well-known for
Sanskrit learning and music, and these flourished at
Tanjore down to the time of Ekoji and his successors.

332 SH1VAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

time after Shivaji and some historians consequent-
ly represented Shivaji as illiterate.

It is somewhat strange that Shivaji's genius
failed to recognise the necessity of studying the
manufacture of powder and guns while he built
forts and ships. The importance of cannon both
for forts and ships must have been recognised by
him ; but he remained, like the Mahomedans, con-
tent to buy powder and guns from the western
peoples who were settled as traders on the west
or east coast. Shivaji should have seen that even-
tually these western nations would conquer India
by the power of their superior weapons. Why did
he not set men to study natural sciences and to
found factories in his own country for the manufac-
ture of guns and powder, even as the Japanese did
immediately after they saw and felt their power?*
Even accurate gunners could not be found among
Mahomedans or Hindus. It is possible to explain
this failure by the fact that the European nations
were never aggressive at this time, like the Ame-
ricans in Japan, though they had seized upon

* We have the mention of a factory of guns at Puran-
dar; probably the Portuguese were employed for this.
PS 1975, 22nd September 1677; ER II 251, p. 138. In this
letter of Shivaji to Madras he asks the English to send
men for making even carnages for guns and for laying
mines.

SHIVAJl'S GREATNESS 333

patches of territory on the east and west coasts
and had begun to fortify them. It is also true that
Brahmins, the intelligent class among Hindus have
been from the first averse to the study of the na-
tural sciences. Even in the west, until Bacon arose,
the intelligentsia was engrossed in sciences of words
rather than in sciences of things. It is as difficult to
foretell in the future as to speculate in the past ;
but the historical theoriser cannot help remarking
that if the study of the natural sciences had been
suggested at this time to Shiva ji and if Shiva ji had
got his men qualified for the manufacture of guns
and powder as a department of state, the subsequent
history of India might have had to be written
differently from what it is. Brahmins again feared
religiously to go beyond India and were thus also
handicapped in this matter. All the same, it was
their duty, at least in Peshwa times, to look to
this, so that artillery need not have been entrusted
to Frenchmen or Englishmen by Bhausaheb or
Mahadji Scindia.

XL. SHIVAJI'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

The greatest achievement of Shiva ji was the
establishment of Swaraj in Maharashtra and the
consequent raising of the Marathas to greatness,
political as well as moral. Shivaji founded an in*
dependent Maratha kingdom in spite of the efforts
of two prosperous Mahomedan empires or powers
to crush him and yet the means which Shivaji had
were absolutely inadequate and insignificant*
This almost impossible work was, therefore,
accomplished, we think, by the energy of soul,
mind and body of one single individual. We note
sometimes how, in history, a single individual aris-
ing among a people raises them to power and posi-
tion. A single Shivaji thus raised the Marathas to
the rank of rulers for at least a century and a half
and established their reputation for bravery and
statesmanship for all time. A single Bajirao raised
the Chitpavan Brahmins to the position of emperors
of India and established their reputation for intel-
ligence also. Yet centuries before Bajirao, they
were unknown and unnoticed and lived in a small
tract in Konkan, going out, if they ever did, as beg-
ging Vaidikas. The Marathas were similarly
insignificant before Shivaji, though not equally with

SHIVAJl'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT 335

the Chitpavans, and were usually looked down
upon as Bargis (?) by the Mahomedan conquerors
of the Deccan.

Let us see what the condition of the Marathas
was before Shivaji. Except a few leading jagirdar
families which claimed descent from Northern India
Rajputs, the original Maratha gentry in Konkan,
Ghat-Matha or the Deccan consisted chiefly of
Deshmukhs and Patels. They were war-like no
doubt and good riders ; but they were divided and
they always fought among themselves. They were
also not stubborn fighters ; for they had no national
sentiment which alone enables soldiers to fight
stubbornly. They were ready to serve any master,
whether this Mahomedan king or that, who enter-
tained them in service. The ordinary Kshatriya
population in Maharashtra thus was of no capacity
or strength physically or morally. The causes of
the fall of Maharashtra before the Mahomedans
about 1 300 A. D. are nearly the same as those of
the fall of Northern India about 1200. The absence
of the sentiment of nationality and the want of
unity among the Maratha gentry and Patels
made the conquest of Maharashtra by the Maho-
medans easy and three hundred years of Maho*
medan rule thereafter made Maratha Kshatriyas
not only content with their lot but also loyal to
their foreign rulers.

336 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

The lower population of the Deccan and
especially of the Ghat- Math a and Konkan was
weaker still, being entirely unwarlike. In stature
and strength, the ordinary Mawalas and Konkanis
were insignificant, compared with the Pathans, the
Moguls or the Siddis who mostly formed the Maho-
medan army. Man to man, with or without arms,
a Mawala could not have faced a Pathan. But
nationality, self-confidence and unity can make
heroes even of Mawalas as of the Japanese and the
former easily defeated the Mahomedans in Shiva ji's
war for independence as the latter defeated the
Russians in the Russo-Japanese war. When
Shivaji formed his plan of founding Hindwi Swaraj
in order to free Maharashtra from the oppression of
a foreign rule and religion, he had only the Mawalas
before him as his instrument ; but he rightly thought
that even these weaklings, if trained, disciplined
and inspired with the feelings of unity and nationa-
lity, could be trusted to achieve wonders. Shivaji
drew his inspiration from the Mahabharata as
usual in this connection as it preached " how a peo-
ple trodden down by Dasyus can rise and how even
one thousand horsemen, if of one mind, were enough
to conquer the world. " Shivaji resolved, thus, to
work even with these men and he enlisted them
by thousands. For there was the advantage
of numbers on the side of the Mawalas and

SHIVAJI'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT 337

Konkanis. They were thousands as opposed to
hundreds and if one thousand horsemen of one
mind could conquer the world, surely a hundred
thousand could easily do so- Shivaji, therefore,
finally formed his plan and began his mission,
ignoring the high class Marathas, the Ghorpades
and the Ghatges, the Mores and the Savants and
relying upon the Mawalas and the middle class
Deshmukhs and Patels.

It may, perhaps, be doubted here if Shivaji at
the age of 15 had in his immature mind these
various thoughts and reasonings. But we believe
that old age is never capable of forming high
plans or carrying them out, nor probably even
middle age. It is only in youth when imagination
is strong, mind undaunted and body supple that
such high plans are formed and an optimistic
view taken of everything. We know great men
have done great things only in youth. Shankara-
charya formed the plan of conquering Buddhism and
Jainism by his new philosophy which he had though*
out even at the age of 16 and carried out his plan
before the age of 32. It is, therefore, no wonder if
Shivaji formed his high plan and resolved to carry
it out even at 1 5 with such insignificant materials*
It must also be remembered that Shivaji in his
fifth year had seen Shahaji become almost the
master of Nizamshahi with the help of his Maratha

S. 22

338 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

cavalry, and that he must have also marked at
Bangalore with his precocious faculties from his
tenth year how Shahaji had acquired extensive
dominion with the help of the same cavalry.
He inspired such courage, such self-reliance and
such spirit of unity and nationality in his middle-
class Maratha followers and the lower class
Mawalas and Konkanis that they eventually formed
an invincible army and fearlessly attacked armies
of Pathans, Moguls and Siddis, and even defeated
them in pitched battles.

This spirit of nationality which we find in the
Marathas and the Mawalas at this time was a
creation wholly of Shivaji and partly of Ramadas.
Nationality, not to speak of patriotism, has never
existed in India. The duty of Kshatriyas was always
supposed to be to fight for the master and not the
country, the king and not the people. Country and
people indeed had no existence then. A king ruled
not by the consent of the people but by his success in
battle or by his descent in a particular kingly fa-
mily. Hindus, therefore, fought even in the army
of Mahmud against their own countrymen. Euro-
peans have marked this defect in Hindu character.
Thus, Friar states that " Every Hindu prizes the salt
he eats more than the independence of his country
and therefore fights even for the Mahomedans. " l

I. PS 1823, dated 1675.

SHIVAJl'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT 339

The Marathas similarly fought against Shivaji in
the armies of Bijapur or Delhi. That it was the
duty of the Marathas to join Shivaji in establishing
Swaraj was a new idea altogether. It was first
preached by Shivaji and by Ramadas and it
gradually grew under the teaching of the latter.
The word was a little different. It was for the
Maharashtra Dharma that Marathas ought to fight.
This word is no doubt older than Shivaji, but it
had no political import then. This was added later
in Shivaji's time and Ramadas uses it in this sense
when he says of Shivaji :* " Jf^FUgW *Fft?5T 3tfCf I g*?f-
3JRM." The sentiment of nationality grew stronger
and stronger with Shivaji's successes and when
he was crowned as the king of Maharashtra, it was
firmly fixed in the minds of the Marathas through-
out his dominion. The crowning of Shivaji was
the crowning of a Maratha, the declaration of the
independence of the Marathas ; and the national
sentiment, thus strengthened, was put to the test and
it worked wonders, when Aurangjeb after Shivaji's
death vainly tried to crush the independence of
Maharashtra. For the Marathas stood up against
him as one man and gathered around the person
of Rajaram as the representative of Maharashtra
* Jedhe, a Deshmukh of Mawal, thus said, " This is
Maharashtra State and for it I will sacrifice myself and
my five sons,"

340 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MABATHA SWARAJ

Dharma, in spite of nameless miseries suffered
for several years, throughout their country.

The word 'Maratha' gradually extended in
meaning. It originally applied to the Kshatriyas
who settled in Maharashtra in ancient days, pro-
bably about the sixth century B. C. ( Bhandarkar).
And even the Rajput families which came later
in Mahomedan times, adopted the same name,
having married, naturally enough, among these
older families. The other people in Maharashtra,
Brahmins and S'udras, were not called Marathas
in Mediaeval or Mahomedan times. But when the
whole people were united under the rule of Shivaji
and when they became a nation so to speak, they
all came to be called Marathas. Differentiated
among themselves, they were called Brahmins and
S'udras, while, when the word 'Maratha' was singly
used, it meant and even now means the Kshatriya
Marathas. But they had all become Kshatriyas or
soldiers, whether they were Brahmins, S'udras or
Kshatriyas, according to the maxim of the Manu-
smriti that every one should take up arms when
religion is in danger. They had all fought with
valour in the armies of Shivaji and they had all
thus become Marathas or the Maratha nation.

The reputation of Marathas as soldiers was
thus established for ever. The spirit of unity and
nationality infused by Shivaji among the Marathas

SHIVAJI'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT 341

gradually waned in later times, but their renown
as soldiers and as statesmen continued. Brahmins
distinguished themselves as leaders of armies,
even in Shivaji's time and hundreds of Brahmins
enlisted in the cavalry. The British in India later
on enlisted and still enlist Marathas, though not
Brahmins, in cavalry and infantry, those from the
Ghat-Matha and Deccan gentry being enlisted
in the cavalry and the Konkanis especially in the
infantry. Maratha soldiers were and are further
distinguished by their simple living and abstemious
habits and are capable of hard work, even on
small fare, a capacity which has been developed
since Shivaji led his plundering expeditions,
carrying as little paraphernalia as possible and
subsisting on whatever food was available. This
capacity of the Marathas was found to be of great
use in Mesopotamia in the last great European
War as we read from published accounts.

It might be contended that favourable circum-
stances enabled Shivaji to found an independent
kingdom. Because Muhammad Adilshah died at
an opportune moment, because Aurangjeb was
called away from the Deccan at a critical time,
because Mogul officers like Bahadurkhan were
corrupt and because Pathans and Siddis fought
among themselves for power at Bijapur during
the minority of Ali's son, Shivaji succeeded in

342 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

his plan of founding Swaraj. This is partly true.
But favourable and unfavourable circumstances
arise at all times. The man of genius takes advan-
tage of the former and conquers the latter. Ab-
sence of the sense of nationality characterised the
Indian people from ancient times. The Maha-
bharata in the Sabhaparva advises kings to send
presents secretly to the IBTirthas or high officers
of other states and keep three spies, unknown to
each, on fifteen officers in their own states; for
officers were always open to corruption and
Bheda has always been one of the four means of
conquering an enemy. But we must remember
that Shivaji succeeded not because Bijapur or
Mogul officers were divided or corrupt, but because
his own officers, military and civil, were not venal
or divided and this was due to the great sense of
nationality generated by Shiva ji's great personality
and his high spiritual purpose.*

Whether circumstances create heroes or heroes
create circumstances is a much contested philoso-
phical question. Our view is that circumstances
always exist but great men are born by the will of
* Shivaji's emergence without injury from his tussle
with Afzalkhan and his escape without detection from
confinement at Agra also strike us as strokes of good
fortune* But at the sams time his foresight in providing
{or all contingencies and his resourcefulness in sudden
situations cannot but be admired.

SHIVAJI'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT 343

God. Apples were always falling from their stalks
but the law of gravitation remained undiscover-
ed till a Newton was born by the will of God. All
people are capable of great things, but heroes
come and raise them to their full height. One
such great hero was Shivaji who founded an
independent state of the Marathas, welded them
into a nation and raised the Marathas to ever-
lasting renown as soldiers and statesmen.

The liberation of Maharashtra in the seven-
teenth century somewhat the liberation of Italy
in the nineteenth; hut it was even higher and more
difficult. " The problem before Cavour was how a
country of 37 millions could outwit and confront a
nation of 230 millions." The problem before Shivaji
was indeed simpler, being exactly the opposite,
namely, how Maharashtra having a population of
three hundred lakhs could confront three lakhs.
However, as Lord Palmerston said, " Italy only
seemed dead and Italy has arisen to a new vigor-
ous life, breaking the spell which had bound it and
showing itself worthy of a new destiny. " Maha-
rashtra, however, was actually dead politically and
had to be brought to life again. Hence the number of
its people as compared with that of the Mahome-
dans had no value. Secondly, unlike the Italians, they
had to be brought to life again by the sentiment of
nationality and unity. Shivaji united Maharashtra

344 SHIVAJI THE FOUNDER OF MARATHA SWARAJ

under the new impulse of Swarajya and Swadharma.
Thirdly, unlike the Italians, the Mawalas and the
Marathas were unwarlike and had to be trained
to fighting. Lastly, Italy was backed by England
and the rest of Europe stood aloof. Maharashtra,
on the other hand, had to fight alone, not only
against its own people but against the rest of India.
Thus, the liberation of Maharashtra by Shivaji was
a far more difficult task than the liberation of Italy
from the yoke of Austria. And further, Shivaji had
not only to be his own general, his own statesman f
but his own propagandist and it may be said
that Shivaji was Victor Emanuel, Count Cavour
and Garribaldi put together, the general, the
statesman and the teacher.

APPENDIX

I. Shivaji's Personal Appearance

Escaliot writing on 28th Jan. 1664 ( ER 79, p. 73 )
says u His person described by those who have seen him
is as follows : He is of a mean stature, erect and of an
excellent proportion. He is active in exercise; and wh en-
ever he speaks he seems to smile. He has a quick and
piercing eye. He is whiter than any of his peoples.

II. Shivaji's Wives and Children

Mr. S. K. Oka of Dhar has written a detailed paper
on this topic, bringing together and discussing all the
authorities on the subject, published in Shivaji Nibandha-
vali 2. We give in this note the information given in this
paper, stating our view wherever we differ from Mr. Oka.

Shivaji, it is generally stated, had eight wives, but we
find authority for six only. The most senior of them
was Saibai, a daughter of the Nimbalkar family. She was
married in Bijapur. When Shahaji finally entered Bija-
pur service, it is natural that the Adilshah should bring
about a marriage between his son Shivaji and a daughter
of the Nimbalkars who were one of the most loyal jagir-
dars of his kingdom. This marriage took place in April
1640, when Shivaji was about ten years of age and not
in 1641, as Shivadigvijaya states. This later account of
Shivaji states that the first marriage of Shivaji took
place at Poona and was performed by Dadaji Konddeo
and that " when Shahaji wished to see the married

346 APPENDIX

couple, he had them brought to Bijapur when the Padshah
insisted that a second marriage must take place and in his
presence* " This is an absurdity. The first marriage
could not have taken place at Poona and in the absence
of Shahaji. For according to Shiva- Bharata, Shivaji went
to Poona in his twelfth year, i. e. in 1642 or 1641 at the ,
earliest. The first marriage of Shivaji in 1640, therefore,
must have taken place at Bijapur and with the Nimbalkar
family, as the Kaifiyat of that family mentions. After
being taken to Poona, Jijabai probably wished that a
second wife should be given to her son, as he had become
now an independent jagirdar, as alread/ stated ; and
Dadaji Konddeo might have brought about the second
marriage with the Shirke family. This wife of Shivaji
was named Soyarabai. The difficulty which Mr. Oak
mentions here how Saibai could be treated as the eldest
queen is solved in our view in this way.

The third queen of Shivaji was Putalabai from the
Mohite family. When exactly she was married cannot be
determined; but she could not have been married at
Raigad in 1653 as held by Mr. Oka, as Raigad was not in
Shivaji's possession till 1659 and Shivaji himself was not
then sufficiently great. It seems to be a tradition among
the Maratha high-born families that a girl from the
Mohite family should be taken and it is possible that
Jijabai got this third girl married to Shivaji.

When after the conquest of Javali, Shivaji became
a powerful jagirdar and when he wished to collect friends
and supporters for his Hindvi Swaraj by strengthening his
position by marriage relations in important Maratha
families, he married three more wives. J records that in
S'. 1578 Magh (February 1658), Shivaji formed marriage

SHIVAJT'S WIVES AND CHILDREN 347

relation with the Gaikwads. The name of this fourth
queen appears to be Sakwarbai. Three months later, on
Vaishakh S'. 5 ( May 1658 ), he married a lady from the
Jadhav family and again on Dwadashi from the Ingle
family. Thus, these three important families, Gaikwad,
Jadhav and Ingle, were enlisted in his cause. Mr. Oka
gives Kashibai as the name of the lady from the Jadhav
family. We know from the Rajyabhisheka Kalpataru
that Kashibai died a few days before Shivaji's coronation
and her death, according to Nis'chalapuri, was an evil omen.
In an English letter also, there is a reference to a queen
of Shivaji dying at this time* We are not certain as to
whether the queen from the Jadhav family was named
Kashibai, the one from the Gaikwads, Sakwarbai, and the
one from the Ingles, Sagunabai, as Mr. Oka holds.

It is mentioned by Oxenden and Friar that Shivaji
had four queens at the time of the coronation and that
they were again married at the time. Their marriages
were again performed with Vedic rites in order to enable
them to take part in the Vedic coronation ceremony..
These were not new queens married at this time, as is
wrongly supposed by some. They were Soyarabai,
Putalabai, Sakwarbai, and Sagunabai, Saibai having died
long before in 1659 A. D.

Lastly may be noticed the controversy over the
question whether Shivaji had two concubines besides his
queens. Mr* Oka, accepting the testimony of a life of
Ramadas which mentions two more married women,
maintains that they were not concubines but married
women* the word used in this life of Ramadas being
" Lavaris lagna kelelya. " (Lavaris, a Persian word mean-
ing la, without and varis, heir). But we hold that this life

348 APPENDIX

of Ramadas, full of absurdities as it is, about miracles
wrought by Ramadas, must be set aside altogether and we
believe that Shivaji had no concubines as some thought,
or no married wives from among foundlings (Lavaris) as
Mr. Oka thinks. Shivaji was so pure in his marriage rela-
tions and had such proper notions of his own dignity that
he could not have condescended to marry foundlings even
though they might have been very, very beautiful. It is
really distressing to see how later writers add events and
things and persons from their imagination, suggested to
them by their surroundings. They forget that certain
high persons tower above the common run of people.
Ordinary kings and jagirdars might have had many wives
and concubines even in ancient days ; but one is pained to
find that even the last recaster of Valmiki's Ramayana
mentions that there were many beautiful women in Rama's
seragKo ( iW**J <TOfl: ftq :-WJfr. ). We reject such stories
altogether and hold that there were no concubines either
of Rama or of Shivaji. Shivaji, no doubt, married many
queens; but he had to form a party of his own and collect
high Maratha families about himself as relatives. And
we think that a Hindu king may marry more than one wife
rather than keep concubines or mar the purity of
married life. The purity of Shivaji's married life has not
been questioned anywhere.

Shivaji had a son and three daughters from the eldest
queen Saibai. The son Sambhaji was born in 1657 (J)
and his mother died in 1659 ( J ). One of the daughters
was married to Mahadji, son of Bajaji Nimbalkar, who
had been converted to Mahomedanism, but who was re-
converted at the instance of Jijabai. From Soyarabai,
Shivaji had a son and a daughter. This son Rajaram was

SHIVAJI'S POWER AND POSSESSIONS 349

born in S' 1591 Phalguna S'uddha 15. Thursday, 14th
February 1670 ( B- I. S. M. Quarterly IV. p. 21 ) and the
daughter Dipabai was married into the family of Vishwas-
rao. Shivaji had a daughter from Sakwarbai and one
from Sagunabai. The former was married into the Pal-
kar family and the latter into the Shirke family* Putlabai
had no issue and she burnt herself with Shivaji, properly
enough.

HI. Shivaji's Power and Possessions

Sabhasad closes his excellent life of Shivaji with a
detailed description of Shivaji's power and possessions
skilfully introduced in Shivaji's consoling conversation
with Sambhaji. Shivaji proposed to divide his wealth and
kingdom into two parts and give them to his two sons
Sambhaji and Rajaram- As this whole scene and conver-
sation is imaginary, we think that Sambhaji's reply is also
imaginary in which he said he only wished to serve his
father and remain quiet. Shivaji knew his bad and good
qualities, his vices and his merits, his impetuosity and his
bravery. The only thing that must have vexed Shivaji at
the time of his death was, we think, the thought that
Sambhaji would create a turmoil in his kingdom after his
death. He had, no doubt, kept Sambhaji practically a
prisoner at Panhala after his coming back and reconcilia-
tion. But he foresaw that Sambhaji's position as the
elder SDH would go far with the army, though not with
the civil officers or Sarkarkqns. Perhaps, we are here anti-
cipating, as certainly Sabhasad does, when he gives the
conversation between Shivaji and Sambhaji and also later
on that between Shivaji and his officers at his death-bed.

350 APPENDIX

But Sabhasad's description of the power and possessions
of Shiva ji at the time of his death is practically correct
and worth being given here for the curious reader.

After enumerating the eighteen Karkhanas of a
Maratha state copied from Mahomedan states, Sabhasad
gives the twelve Mahals or departments of state and the
first of them was the pota or treasury. Shivaji's treasury
was certainly full, as the treasury of every strong and
fighting kinq: ought to be. The amount mentioned by
Sabhasad is not incredible. The treasury contained one lakh
of Gambars ( gold coin not recognisable but heavier no
doubt than a Mohor which always weighed one tola ),
two lakhs of Mohors, three lakhs of Putalis ( half a tola )
and many lakhs of hons. The current coin was hon. It
wes struck at several mints and it had several names ac-
cordingly. The weight, however, was generally the
same, though with slight variations, being one-fourth of a
tola. The total* of all the different kinds of hons given
by Sabhasad comes to 72-28 lakhs and these at the
rate of three rupees per hon, would be worth 226-84
lakhs or 2\ crores of rupees. There was silver coin
also, namely rupees struck in different mints. The
Moguls used silver coin, called the rupee, weighing one
tola and the English at Bombay also struck rupees which
passed even in Shivaji's territory. The total of rupees
of different mints given by Sabhasad comes to 57 lakhs.
There was besides, gold and silver in bars, the former
weighing 12i khandis and the latter 50, worth res-
pectively one crore twenty eight lakhs and thirtytwo

* Shivaji had a mint of his own and the coin struck
there was called Shivrai. The treasury had 4 lakhs of
Shivrai hons.

SHIVA JI'S POWER AND POSSESSIONS 351

lakhs of rupees approximately. The total of all these
comes to about four crores and forty three lakhs. There
were valuable jewels, diamonds, etc., and pearls also, the
value of which is not given by Sabhasad. There was
cloth, silk, brocade, etc,, which was worth about one crore
of hons The whole thus would be about 10 crores of
rupees ; compared with the riches possessed by some
rich men and the British Government in the Bombay
Presidency alone at this time, Shivaji's treasury cannot be
said to have been extraordinarily full.

Shivaji began, Sabhasad says, with the Poona jagir
worth 40 thousand hons yearly and left a kingdom, the
income of which was about one crore of hons or three
crores of rupees which is somewhat an exaggeration*
The territory consisted of two parts, the first extending
*' from Saler fort in the north along the Godavari to
Kopal on the Tungabhadra in the south and the other
from the Tungabhadra to the Kaveri, " which was terri-
tory recently conquered. The former may be called
Maharashtra and the latter Karnatak. The former con-
sisted of territory above and below the Western Ghats,
namely, the Deccan and the Konkan bounded on the
west by the Arabian Sea from Bassein to Ankola; and
the latter consisted also of territory above and below
the Eastern Ghats bounded on the east by the Bay of
Bengal. Shivaji proposed to give Karnatak to Sambhaji,
as Sabhasad mentions, and Maharashtra to Rajaram.
This, if true, must also have displeased Sambhaji.

Shivaji increased his army slowly as his territory
and income increased. It was at the time of his death a
very large force indeed, consisting, as it did, of one lakh
and five thousand cavalry and one lakh infantry, besides

352 APPENDIX

artillery and a considerable navy. The cavalry consisted
of two parts as stated already, the Paga and the Shiledars*
The Paga or household cavalry had 45 thousand horse
and at its head was Hambirrao Mohite and under him
were captains whose names deserve to be recorded here.
They are given by Sabhasad as follows :

I* Santaji Ghorpade, 2. Manaji More, 3. Yesaji
Katkar, 4, Santaji Jagtap, 5. Nimbaji Patole, 6. Santaji
Katkar, 7. Parsoji Bhosle, 8. Ganoji Shirke, 9. Baloji
Katkar, 10. Niloji Kate, 1 1 . Nathoji Palkar, 12. Tukoji
Nimbalkar, 13. Gondaji Jagtap, 14. Sambhaji Hambirrao,
15* Dhanaji Jadhav, 16. Shamakhan, 17. Waghoji Shirke
18. Haraji Nimbalkar, 19. Bhavanrao, 20. Anandrao
Hapthajari, 21. Telangrao, 22. Rupaji Bhosle, 23. Vyan-
katrao Khandkar, 24. Khandoji Jagtap, 25. Udaji
Pawar, 26. Ramaji Kakade, 27. Krishnaji Ghadge, 28*
Savji Mohite. It may be noted that there was one Maho-
medan captain among these.

The Shiledars ( and the Subedars ) v we find, were
both Brahmins and Marathas and they brought their
own contingents which totalled 60 thousand horse. The
names of the Brahmin Shiledars were : Ramaji Bhaskar
and others and of the Maratha Shiledars, Nemaji Shinde,
Khandoji Atole, Bahirji Ghorpade, Keloji Pawar, Narsoji
Shitole, etc. In all they were 38.

There were besides elephants, small and great, in
number 1260-

The infantry consisted of Mawalas and others and
its commander-in-chief was Yesaji Kank and under him
were captains like Suryaji Malusare, Ganoji Darekar,
Vithoji Lad, etc.* in all about 36*

SHIVAJl'S POWER AND POSSESSIONS 353

Shivaji possessed hundreds of strong forts through-
out his dominions, forts which he had either repaired or
newly built at great cost. He properly held that forts
were the strength of his kingdom; and they really were so
in his time, indeed in modern also, till aeroplanes were
invented. The names of these forts are given in detail by
Sabhasad and they were of three sorts as stated already*
gads, kots and janjiras. The most important of these
were: in Maharashtra, Sinhgad (Kondhana), Prasiddhagad
( Rangana), Vishalgad (Khelna), Satara, Parali ( Sajjana-
gad ), Kot Phonda, Kopalgad, Panhala, Purandar, Pali
( Sudhagad, ) Raigad, Trimbak, Saleri, etc., in number 49
old forts and 103 new ones like Raj gad, Pratapgad and so
on. Besides these forts in Maharashtra, there were 79 forts
in Karnatak, 38 above the Ghats like Kolar, Bangalore
and others and 41 below like Jinji, Vellore and others.

Sabhasad mentions some important young civil
officers who were towers of strength, so to speak, in
administration, such as 1. Nilopant, son of Moropant
Peshwa, 2. Pralhadpant, 3. Gang ad harp ant, son of
Janardan Narayan, who himself was kept with Sambhaj;
at Panhala to watch over him, 4. Ramchandra Nilkanth,
5. Raoji, and 6. Abaji Mahadev and 7. Balaji Avaji
Prabhu, Chitnis.

The eastern boundary of Shivaji's dominion from Saler
to Kopal cannot be exactly determined from the evidence
yet discovered. But the land-marks are as follows Saler
and Ahivantagad were in his possession, but Moropant
had not yet taken Muiher ( PS 2224, Surat letter dated
24th Feb. 1 880). Nasik and Junnar were apparently not in
his possession though Trimbakgad had been taken. Then
Karhad was in his possession ( PS 2238 ) as also Kolha-

S. 23

354 APPENDIX

pur; but Miraj was not ( PS 2240 ). Athni and Gadag
probably were ( PS 2227, dated 28th Feb. 1680 ), as also
Meskra Kot and Kopal (PS 2235; ER 1 1 496, p. 308), but
Hubli and Dharwar were not. With regard to Karnatak
territory we do not know the exact boundaries and the
map hereto annexed gives them from surmise. But it must
have been a large territory as Shiva ji gave yearly one
lakh of hons to Bijapur for sovereignty.

IV* Shivaji's Ministers : Their Names and Functions

Whence did Shivaji take the new names he assigned to
his eight Ministers? They were not the names current in
Mediaeval Hindu times. 'The Mahomedans so completely
changed the whole system of administration that no-
thing remained from mediaeval nomenclature* " ( History
of Mediaeval Hindu India, Vol. Ill, p. 455 ). Down to the
villages, revenue administration names were changed,
names which survive to the present times through the
Maratha rule. Mr. Shejavalkar in his paper on this sub-
ject ( B. I. S. M. Quarterly, IV, 1924 ) points out that the
names were taken from S ukrani tisara, a work on
Hindu Politics. The number eight is also taken from
it (aresfffirft&fiO. These are given as follows

SNS II, 73. Shivaji may have been guided by this work;
but he, as usual, formed his own system. Not only are some
ministers different, but even their functions are different
from those given by SNS. We have a Jabta issued soon
after Shivaji's coronation (Jyeshth Vadya 13 R. year one),
published in the first number of * Itihasa and Aitihasika '
which details the duties of the eight ministers and we can

NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTERS 355

compare these with those given by SNS. On looking into
this work we find that the ministers are further assigned
the following order viz : 1 Purodha or preceptor, the
highest of all, next 2Pratinidhi,next 3Pradhan, 4 Sachiva,
5 Mantri, 6 Pradvivaka, 7 Pandita, 8 Sumantra, 9 Amatya
and 10 Duta. And yet it is strange that SNS lays down
that the eight are to receive the same pay, (gfite*?T:). We
know that Shivaji paid his Peshwa 7,000 hons yearly and
others 5,000. It would be interesting to compare the
functions assigned by the Jabta and by SNS as also
those appertaining to the offices in mediaeval times.

There was no room for the first two in Shivaji's
system ; the Purohita was most powerful in ancient days
( even the king feared him-SNS ) being supposed to be
able to destroy enemies by magical sacrifices. Next was
the Pratinidhi who was to act for the king in his absence.
Shivaji had no occasion for the services of either, being
self-reliant and nearly always present in his state.
A Pratinidhi was required and was actually created in the
time of Rajaram when he went to Jinji. We will detail
the duties of the eight ministers remaining as given in
SNS, the Jabta and mediaeval inscriptions.

1. Pradhana Shivaji called him Mukhya Pradhana.
His duty was to look to all work ( tflstff ST^FTCg SNS .)
The Jabta also states: " He should do all state business,
should lead armies and should act with the consent of all. "
The mediaeval name of the Prime Minister was Amatya
or Mahamatya. In a Thana inscription he is described as
one who bears the burden of the care

of the state" (H.M. H* I., Vol. Ill, p. 248). His Mahomedan
name Peshwa, however, was too strong to be ousted and
continued to the last.

356 APPENDIX

2. Sachiva War Minister (%*mH SNS ). It is
strange that he was not called Senapati. This name was
introduced by Shivaji* His Sachiva was sender of letters
( the Persian name being Surnis ). Sachiva is not a
mediaeval name, the keeper of the seal being called
( do. p. 453 ). The Jabta gives the duty of the

Sachiva as follows : " Every royal letter should be
examined and corrected where necessary by him. He
should also fight**'

3. Mantri Foreign Minister (bft g sftftf tf$: SNS
II. 85). With Shivaji he was house-hold officer called
Waknis in Persian. The mediaeval name of this officer
was Antahpurika or Pratihara ( do. p. 454 ).

4. Pradvivaka Chief Judge ( ssNrcTFSRW SNS ).
Shivaji changed this name ( given in Smritis also ) into
Nyayadhis'a, which was more understandable. The
mediaeval inscriptions do not mention him, because the
king himself, with the aid of assessors and ministers, dis-
posed of cases which came before him ( do* p. 466 ). For
the districts there were Dandanayakas.

5. Pandita The Ecclesiastical Minister
ar3jnta.SNS ) Shivaji created this new minister and also
retained his name which shows that he had probably SNS
before him. His mediaeval name was Dharmadhyaksha.

6. Sumantra Accountant or Finance minister.
( OTzEiriwrai SNS II. 86 ). With Shivaji, he was foreign
minister called Dabir in Persian (

. ). The mediaeval
name of the foreign minister was Sandhivigrahika.

7. Amatya- Writer of letters etc. (vi<dSlft*iI<M SNS II.
86). With Shivaji he was the most important minister next
to the Pradhan. He was both Accountant and Revenue

NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTERS 357
Minister ( his Persian name being Mujumdar). (

. He

had also to fight and administer conquered territory
. fll <3RT

8. Senapati This was a new office created by
Shivaji' (

A Duta or ambassador ( Persian Hejib ) was not
with Shivaji a special minister. Different persons were
sent as Hejib and not one man*

The above will show to us how Shivaji borrowed the
idea of 8 ministers from S'ukramtisara, but made changes
in names and functions suited to his own requirements*

Of other officers the Jabta mentions first the Chitnis
and then, Sabnis and Bakshi

Sena-Dhurandhar ( the Vanguard officer of an army ),
then Subedar, Mamledar, Talukedar ( of districts ),
Havaldar, Subedar, Karkhannis, Sabnis, Sarnobat and
Tata-sarnobat ( of forts ) and Potnis or treasurer

V. Shivaji's Revenue Administration

The whole state was divided into Subas, the Subas
into Perganas or Talukas* and the latter into Tarafs
or Karyats. These are all Mahomedan names and the
original meanings of the first two are not known. Taraf,
however, means 'sides' and Taluka means ' connected '
from Persian Taaluk-connection. There were other
smaller divisions called Tappas, (tappa-Persian, meaning-a
place of halting)* A revenue-paying territory was general-

*The word pcrgana was used chiefly in the Deccan.

358 APPENDIX

ly called Mahal.* The villages were called Maujas and
smaller attached villages Majras. For each village there
was a Patil and a Kulkarni ( these names alone survive
from mediaeval times). They collected the revenue. There
were some other village officers such as Chaughula etc.
These were all hereditary. They were collectively calUd
Mukadams (a Persian word, meaning-forward) and
orders were issued in the name of Mukadams.

The revenue was paid in kind and also cash ( small
taxes of different kinds ). The Malik Ambari system
prevailed; the Mogul Todarmal system of cash payments
fixed on the basis of the produce of several years
had yet to come. It came when Aurangjeb occupied the
country for years after the death of Sambhaji. The govern-
ment share of the produce was apparently different in
different places ; but generally it appears to be two-fifths.
The corn was collected at the head-quarters of the Mahal
and thence sold or distributed to civil and military servants
by the state authorities.

For each division there were Deshmukhs and Desh-
pandes, Sanskrit words introduced by the first Bahamani
kings ( in lieu of the northern Chaudhari and Kanungo);
and these were generally Marathas and Brahmins respec-
tively. They were held responsible for the revenue
collection of the Taluka or division. The revenue for
each division appears to have been formerly, chiefly
under Moguls, fixed in money and was called Tankha to
be paid into the Diwan by the Deshmukhs. These officers
were together called Jamedars. But Shivaji introduced a

e. g i$ioin$i<4. Mahal Persian means a hall and
denoted here the Diwan Hall where revenue business
of the division was transacted.

SHIVAJl'S REVENUE ADMINISTRATION 359

change and held the village Patils and Kulkarnis respon-
sible under Karkuns or government heads of the division*
The Deshmukhs merely assisted and were paid in cash {or
their rights-

The government officers for the divisions were
generally called Karkuns. There was a Subedar for the
Suba and a Talukedar for the Taluka or Pergana ( The
word Mamledar is not yet used, though 'mamla 9 for a
division is found; it is derived from ' amal ' or rule and
Maamla means 'the territory ruled '. There were twelve
Subas, it is somewhere recorded, in Shivaji's Maharashtra*
These were put into three prants, as noted already and
the prants were under Sarkarkuns or Sarsubedars.
(Thus, PS 1238 is an order by Shi vaji, dated 1 5th Jan. 1669
to Subedars and Karkuns WRTC *W<$(W doMMW ef $Wg3T
C $R<?ft *HJI<J| *nT%.) Above these three, there was the
Mujumdar or Amatya of the whole state. The Karnatak
territory conquered by Shi vaji in 1677 was probably one
Suba placed under Subedar Raghunathpant Hanmante
and he was also Mujumdar directly under Shivaji.

The subedar was the chief responsible officer and he
was to survey and settle the Dhara ( assessment ) from
time to time. Thus, PS 1982, dated 12th October 1677, is an
order from Annaji Datto, the Sarkarkun to the

$r in g% tfrcrro stating

Thus, the word TORft meant ^t^t T Thrift-survey and settle-
ment and the Subedar was to do it and settle ^TO or rents.
Survey and settlement was necessary from time to time
owing to constant war operations and the consequent
reduction or extension of cultivation* As soon as a

360 APPENDIX

territory was acquired by conquest or even nominal
lease, arrangement was at once made for its revenue
administration, by the appointment of officers who
looked to the cultivation of land and the encourage-
ment of trade. Shivaji never farmed out the revenue of
any territory, which was realised directly by the Patil
and Kulkarnis under the supervision of officers. The sys-
tem of giving Mokasa of tracts was current before his time.
What the word Mokasa means originally, cannot be ascer-
tained ; but a mokasi was practically a farmer of revenue*
He collected the revenue and paid into the state treasury
a fixed amount. He was also responsible for the safety
of travellers and had to compensate for thefts. He thus
had to keep a police force. Mokasas were constantly
changed as we find from papers. They were often given
to captains of armies and important personages like
ministers as a kind of reward. So far as we have ascer-
tained, there were no Mokasas under Shivaji's rule.

VI- Shivaji's Judicial Administration

The bane of British rule in India is both excessive legisla-
tion and enormous litigation. Under native government,
in past times. Hindu and Mahomedan law, as laid down in
the sacred books, was administered and litigation was very
limited. Where local conciliation was unable to settle
disputes, then only parties went before officers of the
state such as the Subedar and the cases were usually
or almost always decided through Panchayats. Jagirdars
and Mokasdars had no judicial powers apparently; for
cases came before Dadaji Konddeo as Subedar of kile
Kondhana (each tract had its fort) and not as the Karbhari

SHIVAJI'S JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION 361

of Shahaji. But after Dadaji's death, Shivaji became
independent and cases came before him or his mother as
administrator or regent.

There appear to be very few civil cases relating to
debts, as we find no records practically about such cases*
Probably such disputes were usually settled out of court or
by Dharana- It is also true that under the modern Civil
Procedure, recalcitrant debtors are rather encouraged than
otherwise. We have, however, many mahjars relating to
disputes regarding Watans ( Patilki, Deshmukhi etc. )*
They came before the Subedars and often before Shivaji
himself* They were always settled by Panchayats held on
the spot wherein, Patils, Mukadams etc. of adjoining villages
were called together. Witnesses were examined on oath
and documents also inspected. Decisions given by the
Panchas are detailed in their mahjars ( from hajir pre-
sent in court ) signed by all the persons taking part as as-
sessors. This involved great trouble, the Panchayat stay-*
ing in the village for days together. Hence the word
' Panchayat ' in Marathi has come to mean * trouble and
difficulty/ Where there was extreme doubt, the decision was
given by resort to ordeal. The ordeals were of different
kinds as described in Smritis; but the one usually resorted
to in Shivaji's time was that of Rava. It was the taking out
of a piece ( ^3f ) of gold from boiling oil. Resort to ordeal
was always made with the consent of the parties. Care
was taken that no trick was played. The day before the
ordeal, the hand of him who offered himself was washed
and then placed in bags which were sealed. The next day
the ordeal was gone through before some deity in a temple
and if the hand was burnt in taking out the Rava, the
man was declared to have lost his case. How the hand

362 APPENDIX

was not burnt in some casss may be a mystery*; for care
was taken as above that no medicine was applied to
prevent burning of the hand. Shivaji was present personal-
ly at one such ordeal as is stated in PS 1816, dated Feb. I,
1676. It was a dispute regarding the Mokadami ( Patilki )
of Pali between Kharade and Kalabhor and the former
lost the case. Shivaji was present with Harji Raje Maha-
dik, Raghunath Narayan, Moro Trimal, Niraji Raoji,
Moro Nilkanth, Prataprao &c. This Mahjar is important
and the ordeal took place at Pali itself. Cases came be-
iore Shivaji himself not in appeal. For appeals had no
existence then. Where parties were dissatisfied and came
before the king himself, the case was tried de novo if it was
thought proper.

Suits began with personal appearance before the offi-
cer and oral complaint. There were no stamped papers*
nor, of course, pleaders. The party which was proved to
be in the wrong had to pay a proportionate fine, called
Harki. Security was taken for such Harki before enquiry
was instituted.

In criminal cases, sentences inflicted were severe and
involved chopping of hands or legs for theft; murder,
treason and dacoity were punished with death. Punish-
ments are more humane in modern times* So far as
can be ascertained, we do not find mention of jails. High
class delinquents were kept in confinement in forta and
ordinary person in Thanas. Fines were often imposed*

* It is possible to explain it by the power of the mind
supported by the consciousness of being in the right.
Indeed, Chhandogya Upanishad explains an ordeal in this
very way

SHIVAJI'3 MILITARY ADMINISTRATION 363

It shows Shivaji's anxiety for the proper administra-
tion of justice according to divine law, that he appointed a
special minister among his Ashtapradhan, for justice, Hia
name is new and it has survived to this day, viz., Nyaya*
dhish. He was a Brahmin versed in Dharmas'astra.

VII- Shivaji's Military Administration
1. Army

We have already described the army of Shivaji con-
sisting of infantry and cavalry. We may note here some
further facts. Friar records that in the cavalry of Shivaji,
Mahomed ins were mostly employed ( PS 1893, dated
1675 ). This seems strange, as Marathas were known
since long as skilful riders. Friar also records that in the
infantry, the matchlock men were mostly Hindus. This
may be true, not because Shivaji distrusted Mahomedans,
but because his infantry was composed of Mavalas and
Hetkaris of the Ghat-Matha and Konkan and these are
all Hindus. Friar rightly remarks that both Hindus and
Mahomedans had no feeling of nationality. They were
bound by the sentiment of loyalty ( for salt eaten ) and
hence Hindus served Mahomedans and Mahomedana
served Hindus faithfully.

2. Ganimi Kava

The Ganimi method of fighting for which the
Marathas became famous began long before Shivaji. But
hivaji used it with advantage when he had to fight with
large armies encumbered with artillery. A small active
cavalry force can attack large armies by this method.
This method seems to have been borrowed from the
Mahomedans themselves. For Hiuen-Tsiang describes.

364 APPENDIX

the Marathas of the 7th century as giving notice to the
enemy before attack and as fighting stubbornly, never
turning their backs. The first mention of this method
we find in Mahmud of Ghazni's history* He used this
method against the Afghans of Ghor ( see our History of
Mediaeval Hindu India, Vol. Ill, p. 53 ) and also against
the contingent from Kashmir under Tung, come to assist
Trilochanapal, in the battle of the Tausi ( ditto, p. 61 ).
Shivaji must have seen Turkish cavalry in Bijapur army
using this method and hence it was called Ganimi Kava
( the enemy trick ). The trick consisted in showing as if
one's cavalry detachment is defeated and is running away
and then turning round suddenly, when the enemy pursues
and becomes disorganised, and attacking him.

3. Forts

Shivaji saw the value of keeping his forts in good
condition and hence in 1671 A. D. gave an order for the
expenditure of 175 thousand hons yearly on them for
repairs &c., distributed as follows ( PS 1459 ): 1. Raigad
50, including houses and tank, 2* Sinhgad, 3. Sindhu-
durga, 4. Vijayadurga, 5. Suvarnadurga, 6. Pratapgad,
7. Purandar, 8. Rajgad. each 10, and 9. Prachandgad
(Torana), 10. Prasidhagad, 11. Vishalgad, 12. Mahipatgad,
13. Sudhagad, 14. Lohgad, 15. Shrivardhangad and 16.
Manranjan, each 5, and for others 7, total 175.

In view of a sudden Mogul invasion, as a precaution,
when money was most urgently required and could not be
had elsewhere, it was settled (Tah) that the following places
-should maintain a reserve fund of 125 thousand hons, to be
drawn upon only on the occasion of Mogul investment
of forts, tor., Kudal, Rajapur, Kole each 20, Dabhol 15,
Poona 13, Jawli, Kalyan, Bhivandi, Indapur each 5, Supa2,

SHIVAJI'S MILITARY ADMINISTRATION 365

Krishna ji Bhaskar 5 and Nagoji Govinda I, in all 125.
This also shows what towns were rich and in what order.
(PS 1456, dated 1671 )

4. Navy

Mr. Surendranath Sen has written an interesting
detailed chapter on this subject in his " Military System
of the Marathas- " He rightly rejects the opinion of D.
Gaarda, that Shivaji turned his attention to the sea, when
he could not extend his kingdom further on land. Mr.
Sen is also right when he says that Shivaji began
to raise a navy about 1659, when we get the earliest refer-
ence to Shivaji's navy in a letter of the Governor of Goa,
dated 16th August 1659, stating that " Shivaji has construct-
ed some ships of war at Bhivandi, Kalyan and Panwel "
( PS. 777 ). Shivaji with his all-embracing genius must
have seen the necessity of having a navy both for fighting
and trading, when he took possession of North Konkan in
1657* The importance of the acquisition of Konkan is not
adequately realised. It is not realised that Konkan, espe-
cially in the north, is productive being free from famine ;
and there is a very large income from the export and
import trade of its ports. The country was vulnerable to
attack from the forts on the mountains and Shiva- Bharata
rightly says that whoever has Jawali has the correspond-
ing coast line. But Konkan is also at the mercy of any
power which has a strong navy and hence the necessity
of a navy to Shivaji.

The Moguls, it is strange, having the Gujarat coast
under them, did not raise a strong navy; but they as well
as the Persians, the Turks and the Afghans in their armies
were not a naval people. Nor were the Mahomedans of

366 APPENDIX

Ahmednagar who had North Konkan under them, a
maritime people. At Bijapur, the Siddis and the Arabs
were numerous and they were accustomed to move on the
sea. They held South Konkan, horn the ports of which
there was a large traffic of pilgrims to Mecca, besides
there being centres of brisk export and import trade.
Bijapur should; therefore, have been able to equip a strong
navy, but it too failed to do it. The result was that the
western nations, viz., the Portuguese, the Dutch and the
English ( the French to a less degree ) established their
power on the west coast, especially the Portuguese who
claimed the sovereignty of the sea. A Siddi had, no doubt,
established himself in an island on the South Konkan
coast and become strong ; but he had not sufficient navy
and no artillery practically. To fight with, at least to cope
with, these and especially with the Siddi who unlike the
Western nations constantly harassed Shivaji's Konkan pos-
sessions, Shivaji found it necessary to raise a navy and he
at once made arrangements for it when he became master
of the territory from Kalyan to Chaul. There was plenty
of good wood in the Sahyadri mountains ; and the building
of ships for coastal trade was a prosperous profession
already on the west coast There was again no lack of
good sailors, for the Kolis and the Bhandaris of the west
coast were good sailors, being accustomed to the profes-
sion for centuries. Strong and active, they could easily be
trained to fighting. The Marathas as such never took to
the sea, being horsemen generally ; with the exception of
the Angres and the Dhulaps, we find no Maratha captains
of the sea in Maratha history. Mahomedans of the west
coast, being converted Kolis, were also fit to be sailors and
soldiers, and they already used to go to Arabia and Zanji-

SHIVAJl'S MILITARY ADMINISTRATION 367

bar. Shivaji, therefore, was able to raise a strong navy
soon, having built ships in the creeks of Kalyan, Pen and
Panvel and manned them with Kolis, Bhandaris and
Mahomedans. We have already seen that Shivaji had
two squadrons of 250 ships each, one under Daryasarang,
a Mahomedan, and the other under Maynak Bhandari,
towards the close of his reign.

We cannot for want of expert knowledge enter into
details about the nature of the ships in Shivaji's navy*
There were, as stated already, Gurabas, Galbats, Much-
was, manned with sailors and soldiers, and minor craft
manned with sailors only. We cannot state their differ-
ences of construction nor their special use in fighting*
The number of fighting ships increased from time to time
as 160 large ships are mentioned already in 1670- in
Bombay letter, dated 24th Nov. ( PS 1360 ).

Shivaji used his navy for industrial and trading
purposes also. He even aspired to trade with Arabia and
the western countries, without European agency. It
is also recorded that his navy protected the conveying of
salt from Konkan ports. Thus, salt is mentioned as taken
from the island of Bombay in boats protected by Shivaji's
navy in PS 1558 of 1673 and 1302 of 1670. The value of
Konkan again in this respect is not always remembered;
Salt was largely produced in coastal places only and was
taken in boats to inland places on creeks, like Pen or
Kalyan. And in these days of railways, we have entirely
forgotten that in those days, this precious^comraodity was
taken thence on bullocks to the up-country. There was
a special Sarkarkun appointed by Shivaji to superintend
coastal industrial traffic*

368 PPENDIX

5. Artillery

But Shivaji's strong navy was handicapped for want of
cannon. As already stated, the only point where Shivaji's
intelligence failed was the manufacture of cannon and
gunpowder. To cope with the navy of the western peoples,
his navy required to be armed with cannon and these
and even expert gunners could only be had from them.
For expert gunners could not be made out of Kolis,
Bhandaris or Mahomedans, much less out of Brahmins
and Marathas. It must be admitted that in the Deccan
and the Sahyadri mountains there are no iron mines.
The art of smelting iron and other metals is not much
practised there. Even with this drawback, Shivaji
tried to manufacture guns and gunpowder at Purandar
with the aid of foreigners. We know from the Gover-
nor of Goa's letter to Jaising (PS 1044), dated 1665,
that there were some Portuguese in the employ of Shivaji
as of other kings. Again PS 1053 ( Jaising's letter to
Aurangjeb ) states that Ambaji Kharkuli and his two
brothers who were manufacturing powder at Purandar
were being seduced from Shivaji's service, by offers of
mansabdaris. It does not seem clear whether these men
were Hindus or Mahomedans and if these men could
manufacture guns also. In any case, this work did not
prosper and Shivaji had to depend for cannon and
gun on the western peoples. Being in possession of
Konkan and also their neighbour, Shivaji usually got fire-
arms, especially from the Portuguese, 'and often from the
French at Rajapur. (ER213, dated 5 Sept. 1670 speaks
of Shivaji obtaining lead and guns from the French). But
these weapons must have been inferior to those used by
the Westerners. Moreover Shivaji depended upon them

CURRENCY IN SHIVAJl'S TIME AND COUNTRY 369

also for expert gunners. Hence, as Sen has observed*
44 Shivaji's fleet, though numerically superior to the fleets
of European nations or that of the Siddi, was inferior to
them in artillery and the art of navigation. "

We cannot say if the cannon and guns of Shivaji
were superior to those of the Mahomedans who also de-
pended upon Europeans for these arms and also for gunners.
But Mr* K. P. Khadilkar thinks that the possession of Kon-
kan was useful to Shivaji in another respect, viz., the obtain*
ing of better swords than the Moguls possessed. Good
swords also came from the west ; they were manufactured
in Damascus and other western countries and were hence
called ' Firangs ' in those days. It is possible, however,
that the Moguls could also obtain them from Gujarat ports.
We have already shown how iron industry was not much
known in Maharashtra and hence even good swords were
not locally manufactured*

VIII. Currency in Shivaji's Time and Country

The most prominent fact with regard to currency in
Shivaji's time and country is that the authorized money
was the hon. In fact, in the whole of South India the cur-
rency was in gold hons. This was so not only from Maho-
metan times but from Hindu times. Indeed, throughout
Hindu times, the currency was in gold. In Vedic and Epic
days, the gold coin used, called nishka, was only a piece
of gold of a fixed weight. We do not know its value; but
Vedic works extol a sacrifice where a Nishka was given
as Dakshina to each Brahmin. It seems that gold was then
plentiful both in Northern and Southern India. Ceylon
was known as golden Lanka. It is no wonder, therefore,
S.24

370 APPENDIX

that throughout ancient, mediaeval and Mahomedan
times, gold coin was used in the south. It was called hon
or gold, hon being the Prakrit form of Suvarna. Suvarna
itself also meant a gold coin. In Mahomedan days, we
find it sometimes called Lari, the name being derived
from Lada or Lata ( Konkan Gujarat)*

When the Mahomedans of Northern India introduced
silver coin cannot be stated. But I have shown in my
4 History of Mediaeval Hindu India/ Vol. II (page 463, and
Vol. Ill, p. 26! ) that the rupee was known and used even
before the Mahomedans, in Kathiawar.-OFRJ^ ^r

Inscriptions). The word 'rupee* like
* hon ' also means the metal, namely silver. When the
Moguls conquered Nijamshahi, rupee currency was intro-
duced into Berar, Aurangabad and Ahmednagar prants.
The English at Surat had to use the Mogul rupee and they
naturally introduced it in Bombay from whence it spread
into Konkan and Maharashtra. They even struck rupees
of their own, as appears from their letters. They
traded in Shivaji's Maharashtra and hence rupees had
begun to circulate in Deccan bazaars* But the govern-
ment authorized coin was the hon. We can, thus, under-
stand how Sabhasad and other contemporary writers al-
ways mention the revenue from villages, districts and
prants as so many hons* Sabhasad also gives the total
cost of the coronation ceremony in hons, namely, one
crore and forty-two lakhs. The Peshwa and other mini-
sters were given one lakh of hons each, as present though
Gagabhat who lived in Benares is said to have been given
one lakh of rupees as Dakshina.

The value of current hons in rupees varied accord-
ing to the relative value of gold and silver in the market,

CURRENCY IN SHIVAJl'S TIME AND COUNTRY 371

just as even now in England the rupee value of the pound
varies. It seems, however, that in the Mogul Maharashtra
territory, the value of a hon was fixed at three rupees.
The rupee is one tola in weight and the hon was 1 tola*
Taking the mediaeval value of gold as sixteen times that
of silver, we expect the hon to be taken as equal to four
rupees* But the ratio of silver and gold values varied*
Silver was not plentiful then as now and thus sometimes
the ratio came down to 14 or even less* Then again
government fixes the ratio sometimes in its own favour
and sometimes in favour of the ryot. Hence we find in
some old documents of revenue from Taluka Sangamner
( shown to me by Mr. Shankarrao Joshi ) that assessment
originally in hons was converted, under Mogul rule, into
rupees at the rate of three per hon. But in Jaisingh's
letter to Aurangjeb of June 1665, we find Jaisingh taking
the hon as five rupees ( PS 1 066 ) : " Shivaji offers to
pay 40 lakhs of hons as Peshkash and this represents a
sum equal to two crores of rupees. " This is, of course, its
greatest value.

Hons being of gold contained some alloy and differ-
ent mints turned out hons of different alloys. This
also led to the value of the hon being taken
differently for different mints. In the list of coins
in Shivaji's treasury at the time of his death given by
Sabhasad, there were, besides Padshahi hons, Ibrahimi,
Shivrai ( struck by Shivaji ), Kaveri pak, Achyutarai,
Devarai, Ramchandrarai ( these three were Vajayanagar
coins), Gutti, Dharwadi, Malkhatti. Advani, Tadpatri
(these were places where mints coined hons in the South )
Again the tendency to depreciate coin naturally led to old
hons being prized more than new ones. Thus, we find

372 APPENDIX

from Dag register, dated 28th November 1663 (PS 1863)
a report that the Moguls who first took tribute from
Govalkonda in rupees insisted on having it in old hons*
as the new ones of Govalkonda were depreciated ( 128 new
ones being equal to 100 old ).

Shivaji, of course, struck hons in his own name after
he was crowned* But there is evidence that he coined
money even before from 1664, especially after his return
from Agra. We have not yet seen a Shivrai hon though
it is understood that some have been found.

The Westerners called hons Pagodas. It is said that
Pagoda means a temple and on the hons, the sign of
a temple was always imprinted. The art of coining was
borrowed by the Hindus from the Greeks, as shown else-
where. But on the Hindu coin, we do not find imprinted
faces of kings who struck them. Various signs, chiefly
religious, were impressed along with a letter or two from
the name of the king who struck the coin. Where Shvaji
coined and whether the men employed where Hindu gold-
smiths has not yet been ascertained-

The English in their treaty with Shivaji settled at the
time of the coronation wished to insert a term regarding
currency, but this was not allowed by Shivaji. We find from
Oxenden's diary (ER 486, p. 376) that Shivaji accepted all
the articles of the treaty proposed except the money article
which was to this effect : "All manner of coins made and
used in the island of Bombay should go current in
Shivaji's dominions and all sort of coins made in Shivaji's
dominions shall pass freely in the island." ( ER 475, p.
354). Shivaji deemed this article unnecessary and said
that he did not wish to force his subjects. He well under-
stood the powers and limitations of an independent ruler.

CURRENCY IN SHIVAJl'S TIME AND COUNTRY 373

The rupee currency, however, supplanted the whole
gold currency after Shivaji's death, probably in the days
of the occupation of Maharashtra by Aurangjeb for several
years. Shahu's policy was one of conciliation and his
acceptance of a farman from Delhi of Chauth and Sardesh-
mukhi perhaps induced him not to revert to the old
gold currency.

The real difficulty which besets the subject is, how-
ever, the value and nature of the coins below the hon
They were named Taka and Rukka. We are, for the last
two hundred years and more, accustomed to speak of
rupees, annas and pies and have f orgotton that 300 years
ago, we spoke of hons, Takas and Rukkas. We cannot
hence now tell the value and even the nature of these two
inferior coins. We are thrown on guess to be made from
old papers. Several papers thus of the Deshpandes of
Shirval published in Raj wade Khand XX give the income
of the Desh-Kulkarnis in Takas and hons* They used
to take a percentage of the total income of villages and
this is given in Takas, the share of one partner being
stated as much as 815 Takas* For Gaon-Kulkarni work,
the claimant got cash in Takas and grain. These old papers
from S'. 1 565 ( 1643 A. D. ) thus speak in hons and Takas.
But the question first is how many Takas formed a hon
and what metal was used for the Taka coin.

Prof. Kale in a paper on this subject published in
B. I. S. M. Quarterly XI-3, considers Taka as merely a
money of account and that it meant money generally. ( In
Bengal Taka means even now a rupee* ) But Taka is
derived from Tanka ( striking ) and originally must have
meant coin struck. The coin has now gone out of use ;
but it has remained in some Marathi phrases like the

374 APPENDIX

following * ? 2%JTfan% 35TOHRI,
3 | Rta SjORJf Z^T sfa|$T &c.

Unfortunately, no Taka coin has yet been found by
researchers and hence the belief probably that it is a coin
of account- Prof. Kale, however, properly holds that it
was higher in value than the Dam of Northern India or
the Dhabbu Paisa of Deccan which was plainly a Maho-
medan copper coin. Prof. Kale has actually found an
old papn* dated 1694 A. D. which shows the ratios bet-
ween these coins from the following : '* Daily wage 25 y
Rukkas for a year of 364 days; this means 188 Takas equal
to 15-2/3 hons." This clearly shows that while 48 Ruk-
kas formed a Taka, 12 Takas formed a hon. This was its
normal ratio ; but other papers noted by him give
the ratio from 10 to 9J. In our view, the Taka could not
be a money of account, for the ratio could not have then
fluctuated. The ratio fluctuates owing to the changing
ratio of the values of silver and gold and the above figures
show that the Taka was a silver coin of about 4 annas in
value, hon being equal to 3 rupees or 12 Takas.

With regard to the Rukka, we have another paper
from Mr. R. H. Gadgil of Bombay in B. H. S. M. Quarter-
ly X-1, in which after describing the copper coins issued
by Shtvaji, he says that there was a copper coin of 1 Tola,
one of | Tola and one of I Tola. The ? Tola copper coin
was called Rukka and Shivrai was f Tola, 192 Rukkas
formed a rupee as shown by Mr. Chaphekar. If 48
Rukkas formed a Taka and 1 2 Takas one hon, we have
596 Rukkas for a hon or 3 rupees. Thus, we have clearly
192 Rukkas to the rupee* A Rukka was thus equal to
one pie of modern days*

CURRENCY IN SHIVAJl'S TIME AND COUNTRY 375

Mr. Gadgil's idea that 3 Takas went to a rupee would
make a hon equal to 4 rupees which is not improbable*,
as the ratio varied from time to time. But as shown in
the beginning, the Moguls changed hons into rupees at
the rate of 3 to 1 and hence a Rukka is equal to the
modern pie. Who introduced pies and annas and what
these words mean by their origin is an interesting subject;
for the Moguls had 40 Dams to the rupee, ( Dama being
derived from old Dramma ). But as annas and pies were
not known in Shivaji's days, this perplexing subject does
not concern us here.

The papers of Shirval Deshpandes, published in
Khand XX noted above, deserve to be studied carefully.
They contain many figures of Takas and hons and they
belong to the time from S'. 1617 to about S'. 1627. The
Takas are never converted into hons and they run up to
even a thousand* The Takas seem thus to be the usual
coin of payment. They again are divided into quarters and
further on; thus at page 104 we have a sum of Nakhtayati
Takas given as 369' 1/4. This sum must be taken to be
correct ( though Prof. Kale thinks that mistakes are often
made in sums ). The quarter is correct ; but how does
the figure 9 come in and how many are to be converted
into one quarter cannot easily be determined. The figures
and remarks at page 108 will afford us a clue. The total
Taka charge on cloth is given as
1* + 41; if this is put into figures,
taking 48 Rukkas for a Taka, we get
88 Rukkas and one-tenth of this
for the Sardeshmukh would proper-
ly be 8? and one twenty-fifth or
Chohotra would be properly 3? and

376 APPENDIX

one-fiftieth or Dohotra would be H* The remainder is
usually neglected. This is my explanation which, I think,
is correct. Now if the Taka is to be divided into 48 parts,
it can never be a small copper coin. The surmise above
made namely that Taka was a silver coin of about 4 annas
value and that a hon was equal to 12 Takas seems correct, 1
have frequently heard the phrase used 'sab fjhode bara take 9
meaning " every horse cannot be of the highest value.'*

Prof* Kale lays stress on the word ' Khurda ' which is
prefixed to Taka often. The word more often prefixed in
the above Deshpande papers is Nakhtayati which means
cash and hence Taka was a coin. The word ' Khurda * is
no doubt interpreted in the Vyavahara-Kosha of Shivaji
as copper coin. But that is not its proper meaning*
Khurda means small only and not copper.

We have stated above that the authorised coin was
hon (divided into Takas and Rukkas). For these alone are
mentioned in revenue papers. It may be objected that
papers are found mentioning rupees and annas also in
this period; e.g. No. 14, Rajwade Khand XVII I, (p. 32)
which is dated S' 1589 S'ravana (July 1667 ) and which
gives the revenue of three villages in Tarf-Patas as 524
rupees 151 annas. But we must remember that this part
was in the possession of the Moguls at that time. Indeed,
as stated already, since Shaistekhan's occupation in 1660 it
was in Mogul possession for six years. And when Shivaji
went to Agra after making peace with Jaising, he formally
handed this part over to the Moguls* The Moguls
used their own currency in their revenue dealings. This
paper even bears the Mogul seal. Two other papers Nos.
12 and 1 3 belonging even to Poona give the Jamabandi in
rupees for S'. 1587 and 1588 (1665 and 1666) for the same

CURRENCY IN SHIVAJl'S TIME AND COUNTRY 377

reason. These papers speak of Perganna Poona as in
Sarkar Junnar, Suba Aurangabad. Indeed, if we examine
these papers of the Deshpandes of Poona, we find that
they belong to the period from S' 1 524 to S' 1662 (A. D. 1602
to 1740) and extend over four rules viz: Nizamshahi,
Shivashahi, Mogulshahi and Shahushahi. In the first two,
money mentioned is hon, Taka and Rukka and in the
last two, rupees and dams.

It may also be objected that we must see also what coin
was used in Bijapur and Govalkonda states. They certain-
ly used hons* Madras letter quoted already shows that
Govalkonda had old and new hons* Other papers similar-
ly show that Bijapur used hons. Shivaji paid tribute for
territories taken in Mokasa in hons and was paid Chauth
also in hons. For dealings with the Moguls, they naturally
used rupees ; and rupees could be had in their bazaars,
as they could be had in Shivaji's.

It is curious to note the following in a Bombay letter,
dated 15th December 1673 ( PS 1604 ; ER 429, p. 315 ),
** We hope the trade into Shivaji's country will consume
quantities of Europe commodities and particularly be use-
ful for consumption of copper pice and tinnys or tin Bud-
grooves in great quantities, which will prove of great ad-
vantage to your mint and the expense of manufacturing of
tin." What were these tin coins? Did the English insist on
being paid in English pice and tinnys? Of course in the
bazaar any coin is available and it is allowable for any
person to ask for payment in the coin he wants* This, how-
ever, shows that English pice was much consumed in
Shivaji's territory. It is possible that this induced Shivaji
to strike his own copper Shivarai to replace English pice
or Mahomedan Dhabbu.

378 APPENDIX

IX. Chauth and Sardeshmukbi

Mr. S. N. Sen in his 'Military System of the Marathas*
has an interesting article on this subject. He points out
first that the idea of exacting Chauth for exemption from
plunder is older than Shivaji. It appears from Portuguese
papers that some Portuguese villages in Daman territory
paid Chauth to the Raja of Ramnagar for this purpose
even in 1579 A. D. ( p. 34 ). We must, therefore, hold that
Shivaji borrowed the idea of Chauth from the Ramnagar
precedent. But we must also concede that Shivaji
extended it in a manner entirely his own. He applied it to
the whole of the Mogul Deccan as also to the Karnatak
territory of Bijapur. It was subsequently applied under
the Peshwas to the whole of the Mogul empire.

The idea is natural* however, and may be taken back
even to Mediaeval times. The idea itself of plundering
enemy country is very old, but not older than Maho-
medan times in India. Ancient Hindu kingdoms did not,
we think, sanction this practice* It was first introduced
by Mahmud of Ghazni and the Mahomedans, throughout
subsequent history, plundered enemy countries. Malik
Kafur surpassed all plunderers when he plundered the
whole of Southern India upto Cape Comorin. Maho-
medan plundering raids were usual before him in the days
of Mahammad Ghori and were carried as far as Benares.
To avoid the trouble caused by plundering raids, a tax was
imposed in the kingdom of Kanauj and regularly paid
to Ghazni. It is noted in inscriptions of the time and is
named Turushkadanda. As pointed out in our History
of Mediaeval Hindu India (Vol. Ill, p. 107), "This tax resem-
bled the Chauth of the Marathas and the Turks kept their

CHAUTH AND SARDESHMUKHI 379 1

officers to realise it as the Marathas did in the Mogul
empire." These Turks were subsequently driven away by
the powerful Gahadaval kings who, however, continued ta
realise the tax from the people, though they did not pay
it to Ghazni (Ibid 9 p. 201).

Shivaji probably did not know the plundering raids of
Mahmud of Ghazni or of Muhammad Ghori; but he took
up the idea of plundering enemy countries from the
Mahomedans of his time. Indeed, we find it noted in
Madras English letter, dated July 1648 (PS 546), that the
army of Bijapur regularly maintained 8,000 men for plun-
dering the enemy country. To raise money for maintaining
a large army, Shivaji followed this example and regularly
plundered enemy country every year. The idea of laying
an impost in lieu of plunder was natural and Shivaji adopt-
ed and extended this system of demanding Chauth or 1/4
of the revenue for exemption from plunder.

Chauth exaction denoted in a way the subordination
of the territory which paid it, but did not involve the
dependency of the power which got it. But sometimes a
subsidy is paid to a plundering people for refraining from
plunder even by a powerful state, just as the British pay
subsidies to the Af ridi and other Pathan tribes for abstain-
ing from plundering British territory. The payment of
a subsidy like this does not indicate the weakness of the
paying power, as it is less costly to pay subsidies than to
make punitive expeditions. But the Chauth of the Marathas
was not a subsidy and was often realised by their officers.

It is not possible that Chauth was paid in addi-
tion to the whole amount of revenue ; it is nearly certain
that the people paid -| of the revenue to Government and
? to the Marathas* That Shivaji ( and the Marathas.

380 APPENDIX

generally ) respected the covenant and never plundered
those who paid Chauth is proved by contemporary records
( e. g. PS 2224; ER II. 485, dated 24 February 1680. 'The
towns which pay Chauth, he meddles not with." )

The ideas of plundering enemy country and of impos-
ing a tax in lieu of plunder are old and even natural. But
Shiva ji applied these ideas on an extensive scale and im-
posed and realised Chauth towards the close of his career
almost over the whole of enemy Maharashtra and on
Karnatak. Even Surat paid Chauth ( PS 2204 ) and
Khandesh ( Chopda, English letter, PS 2224 ). Hubli
governor paid Chauth for Hubli Vilayat, as stated in PS
2038, dated May, 1678, to which the English factors re-
fusing to contribute, their property was seized and sold*
Even the Portuguese appear to have paid Chauth not only
for Daman, but also for Bassein and other territory
(though perhaps not for Goa). PS 2002 refers to Governor
of Goa's letters to Annaji Datto, Subedar Prant Konkan,
and Moropant Peshwa about the demand for Chauth. PS
2031, a letter from the Governor of Goa to his subordinate,
dated 3rd April 1678, mentions payment of irilmte for two
years and more. Of course, it cannot be expected that
Chauth was realised every year or that the exact amount
was insisted upon.

Goirtg on to Sardeshmukhi, Mr* Sen seems to doubt
the statement of Justice Ranade that Shivaji first claimed
Serdeshmukhi for the districts of Junnar and Ahmed-
nagaf in 1650* He thinks that the demand was first made
in 1675 when in a Bombay letter, dated 1st July, we have
the mention of a peace, settled between Aurangjeb and
Shivaji, by which the latter was made the " Desai of all
the country " and the Mogul governor was to move from

CHAUTH AND SARDESHMUKHI 381

Junnar to Kalyan. We find from ER II, 101, that this is
given as a rumour only and Shivaji was to be made " the
Desai of all the country of Deccan, in return for the
latter 's delivering all the castles and country he has taken
from the Moguls reserving only Saler*" This word is
wrongly interpreted as Satara, for Satara was not in Mogul
territory and Mahuli (p. 67). This is, of course, a clear refer-
ence to the demand of Sardeshmukhi (Desai of the whole
Deccan ). But we have the first reference to Shiva ji's
asking Deshmukhi of Junnar and Ahmednagar in a letter
from Murad to Shivaji, dated Nov. 30th, 1649 ( PS 575 )
This was in reply to Shivaji's proposal made several
months before, to enter Mogul service for Shahjahan's
interceding in behalf of imprisoned Shahaji, as already
stated. Shivaji had just begun his career by seizing
Sinhgad and Purandar ; he had no difficulty at this time,
having revolted from Bijapur, in making this proposal.

The question is " Did Shivaji ask for the Deshmukhi of
Junnar and Ahmednagar as a new grant or on the basis of
any old claim?*' So far as can be seen, there were no old
Deshmukhs of prants as yet and this was the small begin-
ning of the larger idea of Sardeshmukhi- a word probably
first used by Shivaji. Our surmise is that Shivaji claimed
the Deshmukhis of Junnar and Nagar as of right. Shahaji
had conquered the setwo districts for tj^J^^^^them-
selves before 1633, when they were
khan. Nay, it is possible that wh
Nizamshah at Pemgiri, he had
Deshmukhis of Junnar and
can only be confirmed if the or
dressed to Murad be found, so
whether Shivaji asked for a

382 APPENDIX

Whatever this may be, it cannot be doubted that this
was the origin of the subsequent demand for the ' Desaiship
of the Deccan,' in other words, Sardeshmukhi. The office
was to carry ten percent of the revenue as emolument*
The Deshmukhs of Taluqs or Mahals got four percent and
the Deshpandes two percent, as appears from Rajwade
Khand XX, p. 108, dated Margashirsha S'. 1617 ( Decem-
ber 1695). This was after the death of Shivaji and this also
relates to perganna Shirwal which was a part of Shivaji's
state since long* There is no proof yet found showing
Shivaji's realising Sardeshmukhi in Mogul territory*
But he undoubtedly made the proposal which fructified
after him in the days of Shahu who got Chauth and Sar-
deshmukhi by an imperial farman in Mogul dominions.

Ranade states at pp. 223-4 ( Rise of the Maratha
Power) " In 1668 Bijapur agreed to pay three lakhs of
rupees as Chauth and Sardeshmukhi and Govalkonda
agreed to pay five lakhs about the same time. In 1671
Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were levied from the Mogul
province of Khandesh. In 1674, Portuguese possessions in
Konkan paid tribute by way of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi/'
Sen doubts this and says that *' unless the treaties of Bija-
pur and Govalkonda are before us, we cannot say that
the tributes were paid by way of Chauth and Sardesh-
mukhi." In our opinion Sen is right so far as Sardesh-
mukhi is concerned; it could not have been levied from
any of the southern kingdoms. Ranade seems to have put
the two * Chauth and Sardeshmukhi* together improperly.
He bases his statements on Bakhars which jumble
matters often. Tribute was, no doubt, paid by Bijapur and
Govalkonda as is noted by contemporary English and other
papers found. Parnalakhy ana mentions tribute as paid by

CHAUTH AND SARDESHMUKHI 383

the Portuguese and even the Siddi* It was levied from
Bednur and Soonda. But it did not mean Chauth ; nor cer-
tainly Sardeshmukhi which, from these, was out of question.
The idea of Sardeshmukhi might have been borrowed
{ rom Sar desais, as Mr* Bendre and Mr. Apte think, the Mav-
lankar Sardesais being so styled before Shivaji. But as with
Chauth, the idea was there and in Konkan. Shivaji took it
up and extended it to the Mogul dominions* For there were
no Sardeshmukhis then in the Ghat-Matha country nor in
Mogul Maharashtra. Even now, there are no Sardesh-
mukhain Berar and the Nizam state Maharashtra, nor in
Maharashtra proper. Desai is a word derived from
Des'apati, a Mediaeval word. Sardesais of course arose in
Mahomedan times only, as ' sar ' shows. The Sardesais
are the same as Sardeshmukhs, a word used
by Shivaji himself in his Sanad to the Mavalankars
of Prabhanvalli ; see his sanad in $fifW and ^ft^rRre,
p. 5. dated Vais'akh 5 1584 (May 1652). But we know that
Shivaji had already in 1649 laid claim to Sardeshmukhi in
Nagar and Nasik territory and had probably no hesitation
to use the word Sardeshmukhi We have shown elsewhere
that Deshmukhs were the creations of the Bahamani rule,
the word not being used in Mediaeval days* We feel
sure that there were no Sardeshmukhs in Maharashtra be-
fore or in Shivaji's time. Thus, in Shirval papers, Khand
XVIII, p. 98, among Kadim (old) Inams, only Deshmukhs
are mentioned. They got 4% on the revenue. For the
Sardeshmukhi we find 10% assigned in a paper dated
S'. 1617 ( 1695 A. D. ). It would be interesting to com-
pare the Sardesai's share with that of Sardeshmukh.

Lastly, Sen also questions the view of Justice Ranade
that this idea of Shivaji was taken by the Marquis of

384 APPENDIX

Wellesley in his subsidiary alliances* which deprived
the protected states of independence in foreign relations.
Here again Sen is right, though partly. Payment of
Chauth did not involve dependence of the payer, but
Sardeshmukhi indicated the dependence of the Deshmukh,
as it involved providing of sufficient force to keep peace
and otherwise assist the administration. The Marathas
in Shahu's time kept a large force at Delhi for protection.
But neither Chauth nor Sardeshmukhi involved the giv-
ing up by the protected state of any power of dealing in-
dependently with foreign states. This development was
no doubt born out of the greater diplomacy of Wellesley.
But the Sardeshmukh, though a servant, became the
master, because he provided the military power. The
nation always falls eventually which seeks the help of a
foreign army for protection or any other purpose. The later
emperors of Delhi were eaten up by the Marathas and the
Marathas in their turn by the English, as the Persians
were eaten up by the Turks and the Romans by the
Praetorian German guards.

X. ADDITIONAL NOTES

(Page 12) : Kumarila has the following on S'abara
Bhashya on the word . Raja in the sutra *TTF
of Jaimini

which means " A Kshatriya though not following
the profession of protecting town and country is called
Raja among Andhras. " On this Kumarila adds the gloss

TheBhashyakara

uses the word Andhra generally for the Dakshinatyas- "

ADDITIONAL NOTES 385

or Marathas. Kumarila belongs to the 8th century and
hence even in his days* ordinary Marathas called them-
selves Rajas. In Andhra even now Kshatriyas are
called Rajas*

( Page 17 ) : Mr. Y. M. Kale of Buldhana doubts
the statement in Shiva- Bharata that Maloji died in 1606,
because ( 1 ) in Khanda 1 5, No. 460, there is a mention
of Maloji and Vithoji granting land in S' 1531 ( A. D.
1609 ) and ( 2 ) a paper found by him in Khedle dated
isane isarin alaf ( 1621 A. D. ) mentions Maloji Raje. He
thinks that Maloji died in 1621 or S'. 1543. But Mr. Kale
does not note that in Khanda 15, No. 372, Maloji is t men-
tioned as Marham though his name and that of Vithoji
are given together. This is dated S'. 1529, S'ravana
X 1607 August). The subsequent documents mention
Vithoji alone e. g. No. 375 of S'. 1533 (161 1 A. D.). These
two facts make it necessary to hold that No. 400 mentions
the gift of Maloji and Vithoji not of that date, but one
previously made and (2) that Maloji in the Khedla docu-
ment of 1621 is another person and not Maloji Bhosle,
grand-father of Shivaji and brother of Vithoji. We
always find Maloji and Vithoji mentioned together and
with Bhosle added.

( Page 23 ) : Des'agata means the territory over
which the Desai enjoyed his rights or exercised his power.

( Page 48 ): Shivaji was not styled Maharaj for
some time, probably till Shahaji was alive. Thus
Shahaji is styled Maharaj and Shivaji simply Raja in PS
662, 655, 650, dated 1653 and 1654.

( Page 53 ) : That the plan for founding Hindvi
Swaraj was formed as early as 1645 A. D. is also proved
by PS 503. 504, 506. The first is an order to Dadaji Naras
S.25

386 APPENDIX

Prabhu, Deshpande and Kulkarni, Rohidkhede, dated 30th
March 1645. It mentions that Shiva ji has rebelled and
taken possession of a fort in the Khore and called it Raj-
gad and that collecting men, DadajS had joined Shivaji. The
order calls Dadaji back to obedience and to his vatan. PS
504 is a letter by Shivaji to Dadaji referring to this order
from the Vazier of Bijapur. It tells him that the Svayam-
bhu god Rohideshvara ( deity of that mountain ) has in-
spired Shivaji to establish Hindvi Swaraj; ( Dadajipant
referred to in this letter is not Dadaji Konddev); and asks
him to be firm, assuring him that God wishes that there
should be this Rajya. PS 506 is an order from the Diwan
again calling upon Dadaji to return to allegiance and
assuring him that his vatan would be continued, if recom-
mended by Bandal, Khopde and Jedhe at Shirval.

It must be noted that the fort Rajgad was taken by
Shivaji, because it was in his jagir limits, being to the
north of theNira. There was no regular Bijapur force there,
for the words are ffe^rsrfte gpfr 33|*f 3?f<?flT ft*qfa f?TO*T.
The fort was not in repair also as such forts were under
the supervision of the Deshpandes or Deshmukhs. It seems
that Shivaji took this fort with the help of Dadaji Naras
Prabhu, Deshpande of Rohidkbore and Velavandkhore,
who was thus the first to join Shivaji 's cause. Shivaji
rebuilt and strengthened this fort and called it Rajgad.
This was in 1645 and Dadaji Konddev was still alive.

Bandal* Khopde and even Jedhe were at this time
against Shivaji and informed Bijapur of these proceedings
through the Shirval Thana.

Chakan similarly was not in Shivaji's possession,
though it was to the south of the Bhima and in Shahaji's
jagir. Shahaji's officer Firangoji Narsala gave possession

ADDITIONAL NOTES 387

of Chakan and its fort to Shivaji without any opposition
and we have, therefore, shown Chakan as within Shivaji's
original fief in the map attached.

( Page 72 ) : Ibrahim Adilshah usually spoke
Marathi and accounts were kept in the Bijapur kingdom
in Marathi. Even now Kanarese speaking traders in that
part keep accounts in Marathi.

( Page 76 ) : Jijaya tax appears to have been put in
force in Khandesh even in Shahjahan's time from 1594 A.
D. See Raver Deshmukh's letter. ( B1SM Quarterly XII )

( Page 104) : Ekangi may refer also to the Yekang
method of single sword fighting and wrestling described
by Ferishta ( Briggs, Vol. III. p. 207 ).

( Page 194 ) : Madari Mehter's descendants served
as Paras with the Bhosle kings till the last Shahu.
Shivaji on his safe return from Agra gave to Madari and his
descendants the right to take the coverings of the throne
at the time of every coronation. See letter published
by Chandorkar ( B1SM Vol. X ).

( Page 251 ) :-PS 2226, ER II 487, p. 299, dated 27th
February 1680, states " You should show the red paper
i. e. our articles of peace signed by the Raja and the white
paper /. e. a letter from Annaji Datto." It thus seems that
kings signed a red paper embodying articles of a covenant.
Does this throw any light on dive's use of a red and
a white paper in connection with Umichand ?

( Page 252 ) Vratya means a Brahmin or Ksha-
triya, or Vais'ya who is devoid of Vedic rites for years or
even generations* Vratya ceremony is a sacrifice pre-
scribed for taking such Dvijas into the Vedic fold.

( Page 283 ) * The following may be quoted from a
narrative given by Orme of an unnamed traveller who

388 APPENDIX

was an eye-witness to Shivaji's visit to Govalkondsu
(ER II 539, p. 349).

" Shivaji was encamped with 12,000 foot and 24,000
horse, three leagues from the town. I saw the departure
of this marauder with troops of whose fidelity, especially
of his body-guards, he had no doubt.

Shivaji saw the king at the palace. He entered by
one door and his attendants, who were permitted, by an-
other. The king came by another. Both then sat down on
seats prepared for them and entered into conversation.
While they were talking, the palace was surrounded by
6,000 cavalry who approached so silently that even the
buzzing of a fly could have been heard. I saw this all
from a window. He like a second Masaniello ( ?) was
loved and respected by his subjects. "

XI. CHRONOLOGY

Birth of Shahaji 1601

Death of Maloji 1606

Birth of Ramadas 1608

Shahaji's Marriage with Jijau 1617
Battle of Bhatavadi in which Malik Amber
defeated Moguls and Bijapuris combined

and Shahaji distinguished himself Oct. 1624

Death of Malik Amber May 1626

Shahajahan ascends the throne April 1628

Ibrahim Adilshah dies 19 April 1629

Lukhaji Jadhav murdered 24 July 1629

Birth of Shivaji 16 Feb. 1630

Fattehkhan released and made minister 18 Jan. 1631

Burhan killed by Fattehkhan 1632

CHRONOLOGY 389

Shahaji places new Nizam on gadi at Pemgiri Oct. 1632

Shaha ji besieged at Mahuli 1 633

Shahaji enters Adi Is hah i service 1636

Shivaji jagirdar of Poona 1 645
Shivaji takes Rajgad in his plan of Hindvi Swaraj 1645

Shahaji arrested by Mustafakhan 25 July 1648

Shahaji released 1 6 M ay 1 649

Shivaji takes Jawali 15 Jan. 1656

Shivaji takes Rairi May 1656

Muhammad Adilshah dies Nov. -Dec. 1656

Shivaji plunders Junnar May 1 657

Shivaji marries daughter of Gaikwad Feb. 1657

of Jadhav 8 April 1657

, ., of Ingle May 1657

Shivaji has son Sambhaji 14 May 1657
Shivaji fights with Naushirkhan at

Ahmednagar June 1657

Aurangjeb takes Bedar 4 June 1 657
Shivaji takes Kalyan-Bhivandi before

Divali day 24 Oct. 1657
Badi Sahebin murders Khan Muhammad 1 1 Nov. 1657

Aurangjeb goes towards Delhi Dec. 1657

Fattehkhan poisoned at Bijapur Dec. 1657

Bahilolkhan also poisoned July- Aug. 1658

Sonajipant sent to Delhi 30 Oct. 1658

Aurangjeb ascends the throne 5 June 1659
Adilshah orders Deshmukh Jedhe &c.

to assist Afzalkhan April 1659

Shivaji comes to Jawali 10 July 1659

Saibai, Shivaji's first wife, dies 5 Sep. 1659
Afzalkhan sends Krinshnarao Hejib

to Shivaji at Pratapgad Oct.-Nov. 1659

390 APPENDIX

Afzalkhan comes to Pratapgad to meet

Shivaji and is killed 10 Nov. 1659

Shiva ji takes Panhala 28 Nov. 1659

,, raids Bijapur territory and collects

tribute upto Gadag Lakshmeshwar 16 Jan. 1660
Battle near Kolhapur Jan. 1660

Shivaji asks Kavaji Kondh alkar and

Vaghoji Tupe from Jedhe and

makes them Hazaris of Hashams March 1660

Shivaji comes again to Panhala 2 March 1660

takes Vasota June 1660

,, goes from Panhala to Khelna

and Baji Prabhu was killed 13 July 1660

Shivaji gives Panhala to Salabatkhan 22 Sep. 1660

Shaistakhan takes Chakan fort Sep. 1660

Sonopant comes to Rajgad with message

from Shaistakhan Oct.-Nov, 1660

Moropant Pingle is given Majmu 2 Jan 1661

Shivaji plunders Nizampur ( Raja pur ),

Dabhol and Prabhanvalli Jan.-Feb. 1661

Kahartalab Khan defeated in Umber khind 2 Feb. 1661
Shivaji takes Sringarpur 29 April 1661

Narahari Anandrao appointed Peshwa 21 Oct. 1661

Dehrigad besieged by Bulakhi 1661

Siddi Johar fled to Kelosi, is defeated

by Ali and dies 1661

Namdarkhan attacked at Pen, Mirya Dongar 1662

Moropant appointed Peshwa and

Nilo Sondev Mujumdar 3 April 1662

Anajipant made Surnis 16 Oct. 1662

Surprise attack on Shaistakhan 5 April 1663

CHRONOLOGY 391

Shahaji dies 23 Jan. 1664
Shivaji returns to Rajgad from Konkan 5 Feb. 1 664
Khawaskhan attacks Kudal, war declared

between Shivaji and Bijapur Oct.-Nov. 1664

Bajaji Ghorpade killed 1 664

Jaswantsing besieges Kondhana Nov.-Dec. 1664

Khudawantpur plundered Nov. Dec. 1664
Jijabai weighed against gold at

Mahabaleshwar 6 Jan. 1665

Shivaji went to Basnur in ships Feb. 1665

Sonajipant dies 25 Jan* 1665
Shivaji comes to Purandar to meet Jaising 31 Mar. 1665

Purandar besieged by Dilerkhan April-May 1665

Peace with Jaising 12 June 1665

Adilshah attacked by the three Nov.-Dec. 1665

Shivaji starts for Agra with Sambhaji 5 Mar. 1666
Meets Aurangjeb and is confined at Agra 25 May 1666

Escape from Agra in a box 1 7 August 1 666
Trimbakpant and Raghunath Korde

arrested at Agra 20 August 1666

Shivaji returns to Rajgad 20 Nov. 1666

Pirkhan and Tajkhan killed Dec. 1666

Peace with Aurangjeb and gs^TT^fr TO? 3 April 1667
Bahilolkhan and Vyankoji besiege

Rangna but are driven away April-May 1667

Peace with Adilshah 8 Oct. 1667
Sambhaji goes to Aurangabad ; peace

withMogult 27 Oct. 1667

Meets Jaswant and returns to Rangna 4 Nov. 1667
Prataprao and Niraji went to

Aurangabad with army 5 August 1668

Aurangjeb destroys Kashi temple Sep.-Oct 1669

392 APPENDIX

Peace broken between Mogul and

Shivaji and Prataprao and Anandrao

returned with army to Rajgad Dec.-Jan. 1669

Kondhana taken and Udebhan killed 4 Feb. 1670

Rajaram born at Rajgad 24 Feb. 1670

Nilopant Mujumdar took Purandar 8 Mar. 1 670

Junnar besieged. Surat sacked on Divali 4 Oct. 1 670
Fight near Dindori with Daudkhan 17 Oct. 1670

Trimbakgad taken by Moropant Nov. 167Q

Ahiwant, Rawla Jawla, Markanda taken Nov.-Dec. 1670
Saleri taken Dec.-Jan. 1670

Lohagad taken 13 May 1670

Mahuli taken, Thursday 16 June 1670

Rohida taken 24 June 1670

Mahabatkhan takes back Ahiwant Apr-May 1670

Bahdurshah and Diler besiege Saleri May-Jan. 1671
They raise seige and go to Aurangabad Sep. 1671

Moropant breaks the siege of Saleri Jan. 1672

Prataprao and Anandrao seize Bahilolkhan,

Mohokamsing and Darkoji Bhosle Jan. 1 672

Moropant takes Jawhar and Ramnagar June-July 1672
Abdulla Kutubshah dies 21 May 1672

Ali-Adtlshah dies, Shikandar placed on throne,

Khavaskhan becomes minister, peace

broken and Punde returns Nov.-Dec. 1672

Nirajipant brought 66,000 hons from

Bhaganagar 21 May 1672

Panhala taken by Annajipant 6 Mar. 1673

Shivaji goes from Raigad to Panhala 9 Mar. 1673

Prataprao fights and conquers Bahilol Mar.-Ap. 1 673
Parali fort taken 1 April 1673

Satara taken on Sunday 27 July 1673

CHRONOLOGY

393

Shivaji plunders Bankapur on Dasara
Vithoji Shinde killed in battle with
Sarjekhan

Prataprao killed in battle with Bahilol

on Shivaratri day at Nivati
Shivaji plunders Sampagaon
Shivaji takes Kelanja
Shivaji's Munja with Vedic rites
Shivaji's Coronation
Shivaji's mother dies at Pachad
Sambhaji's Munja
Phonda besieged
Phonda taken
Shivaji reviews army at Chiplun and

Hambirrao appointed Sarnobat

Ankola Siweshwar taken

Satara taken

Bahilolkhan seizes Khavaskhan

Sambhaji went to Sringarpur

Bahadurkhan and Bahilol fight at Halgi

Netaji Palkar takes STOT^T

Hussenkhan Maina defeated near Gadag by

Waghoji, Sar jakhan and Jedhe died Dec.-Jan. 1677

Shivaji meets Bhaganagar king Feb.-Mar. 1 677

,, takes Chanji and whole of Karnatak Mar.-Sep. 1677
defeats Sherkhan near Tripali 7 July 1677

Bahadur shah takes Lai Darga at Bijapur July 1677

takes Naldurg from Ranamastkhan July-Aug. 1677
Shivaji meets Ekoji 11 August 1677

takes Vadrachal and his whole Prant

and besieges Kolar 1 1 August 1677

Bahadurkhan replaced by Dilerkhan Sep.-Oct- 1677

10 Oct. 1673
Oct~Nov. 1673

24 Feb. 1674
23 March 1674
24 April 1674
29 May 1674
6 June 1674
17 June 1674
4 Feb. 1675
6 March 1675

17 April 1675

18 April 1675
May- June 1675

11 Nov. 1675

18 Nov. 1675
Nov. 1675

1 June |676

19 June 1676

394

APPENDIX

Sarjakhan, Masaudkhan and Bhaganagar

fought with Dilerkhan who retired

to Naldurga Sep.-Oct. 1677

Raghunath Narayan Hanmante

made Mujumdar and Suba of Jinji Sep.-Oct. 1677
Shiva ji came to Gadag Oct.-Nov. 1678

Ekoji fights with Hambirrao near Ahir;

makes peace with cession of Kolarkot Oct. -Nov. 1677
Moropant Peshwa plundered Nasik Nov.- Dec. 1677
Bahilolkhan died, Masaud Karbhari Dec.- Jan. 1677
Gadag Prant taken; Shiva ji comes to

Raigad

Vellore taken by Raghunathpant
Sambhaji flees to Dilerkhan
Earthquake

Shah Alam viceroy at Aurangabad
Moropant Peshwa took fort Kopal
Anandrao takes Balapur
Dilerkhan takes Bhopalgad (Khed)
Shamji Naik sent to Bijapur
Dilerkhan besieges Bijapur
Adilshah and Shivaji at peace
Shivaji plunders Jalna ; fights with

Ranamast; returns to Raigad via Patta
Sambhaji returns and meets Shivaji Nov.-Dec. 1679
Adilshah and Mogul at peace Jan.- Feb. 1680

Rajaram married 1 5 March 1 680

Shivaji died at Raj gad, Saturday noon 3 April 1680

May-June 1678

22 July 1678

Dec. 1678

28 Jan. 1679

25 Feb. 1679

3 March 1679

10 March 1679

2 April 1679

26 August 1679

Oct. 1679

Oct.-Nov. 1679

SUPPLEMENT TO CHRONOLOGY

( Some additions and emendations )

Shivaji's first marriage with Saibai of

Nimbalkar family 1640

second marriage with Shirke 1644

Shivaji asks for Sardesaiship of Nagar and Nasik 1649
Shivaji's third marriage with Mohite 1653

First sack of Surat 6 Jan. 1664

Shivaji attacks Mudhol and Baji Ghorpade

killed end of Jan. 1664

Shivaji drives away Azizkhan from Kudal May 1664

Sambhaji leaves Dilerkhan Dec. 1679

Shivaji meets Sambhaji at Panhala 15 Jan. 1680

Dilerkhan makes peace with Bijapur end of Jan. 1680

INDEX TO NAMES AND PLACES

Abaji Mahadeo 353

Abaji Sondeo 87, 187

Abdul Fatteh HO

Abdul Hasan 225

Abdul Hussein Shah 200

Abdul Karim 233

Abdullakhan 205

Abdulla Sultan 225

Abdul Muhammad 226

Abraham Shipman 145

Achyutarai 371

Adavani 307

Adharsul 14

Advani (c) 371

Afzalkhan 4,64-67. 70,85,

88-91,93-95.97-107,109-

III, 113, 115, 139, 150,

15I,176.176n. 177.178n,

179,258,259. 265, 313,

314,319. 342n

Agra 4, 183-188. 190. 191.

194. 198.200, 240, 241,

243. 250, 276. 326, 342n,

372, 376

Ahilyabai 15

Ahivantgad 220.221,307.

353

Ahmedabad 14

Ahmednagar 7. 11, 12, 33,
73,80,85, 123.134,136.
138. 144. 161, 168, 197,
214,366,370. 380, 381.
383

Ahmedshah Bahamani 72
Aitgiri 270

Ajmer 298

Akanna 280, 283

Akbar 76

Alexander 1.2,289,328
Ali Adilshah 74, 81. 88.

109, 110.120, 126. 130-

132,146, 182,226,341
Allauddin Khilji 72, 73,

315

Ambar 88

Anandrao 223, 227. 228

233-235,241,298,352

Anangpal 2

Andrews 1 29

Angre 366

Ankola 171,269,351
Ankushkhan 88

Annaji Datto 187, 202,

213. 227, 229. 238. 247,

269. 282, 359. 380, 387
Annaji pant 132

Antony Smith 158.160
Antroli 89

Apte, Mr. D. V. 76. 383
Arabia 77, 366, 367

Arani 307

Arjuna 313

Arlington, Lord 207

Arvi 10

Asafkhan 306

Ashte 107

Ashvatthama 136, 137,

292
Athni230, 271,296. 298n

303, 354
Atole Khandoji 352

396

INDEX

Aurangabad 18. 168, 188.
195, 196, 205-208, 214,
221,223,271. 272, 297.
299-301,306, 307, 370,
377

Aurangjeb 4, 24. 74-76.

79-82,85, 88, 93, 113,

125, 134, 147, 158. 164,

168,174, 175, 178, 179,

182-185. 188-193, 195,

197, 200, 204, 208, 212,

217. 218, 220, 221. 226,

231, 235, 237. 248-250,

267, 273-277. 284, 293.

296. 298, 300, 303, 304,

307, 339 341,358,368,

371, 373, 380

Austria 67

Ayodhya 7

Azizkhan 167-169

Babar 73

Bacon 333

Badi Sahebin 88, 102, 146

Badshah-roal 122

Baglan 219. 220, 224, 225,

236, 306.-307

Bagul 220

Bahadurgad 236

Bahadurkhan 221-223,235.

236, 249. 273-276, 280,

286, 293, 294, 341

Bahilolkhan 146, 147, 199,

204,221.224, 228-232,

234. 269. 274-276. 279.

280. 285. 286, 293-295

Bahirji Jasud 302

Baijavapa 10

Bajirao 334

Bakhtyarkhan Khilji 315
Balaghat 146

Balapur 298

Baleshwar 33

Banda 111.149.237.238
Bandal 67.117.386

Bangalore 36. 38. 40, 41,

58. 60. 63. 281. 287. 305.

307.338.353

Bankapur 147. 234. 2%
Baramati 45n. 48n. 123.

150
Barcelore 171. 172n. 173.

281

Bardesh 200 n, 204. 208
Barkur 173

Baroda 326

Barve, Govind Bhat 253
Basnur 173

Basrur 173

Bassein 83. 144, 145, 149.

158. 175. 237. 272. 351.

380

Bedar 7. 12. 72. 73

Bednur 173. 383

Belgaum 234

Bellary 293. 304

Benares 76, 206. 207. 242,

253. 370. 378

Bendre. Mr. 383

Bengal Taka (c) 373

Beran 29, 136. 198. 220.

235. 370, 383

Bhaganagar 225, 270. 294
Bhandari Maynak 367
Bhatavadi (v) 20

Bhausaheb 333

Bhavanrao 352

INDEX

397

Bhavnagar 370

Bhawani 116

Bhima(r) 10-13,17,21.34,

44n. 45n. 92, 104, 114,

123, 134. 144, 236, 272,

301.306,386

Bhishma 313

Bhivandi 82. 92, 109, 124,
205, 21 In. 215. 238, 364.
365

Bhoja 7

Bhopal 188

Bhopalgad 298. 299

Bhor 130, 149. 150. 152.

Bhosaji 7. 9

Bhose 6

Bho 8 le6. 8-12, 147, 167,

241,387; Babaji 10-13.

15, 65. 140. 141, 195;

Darkoji 224; Kheloji

Raje 45n; Maloji 6, 7,

10-13, 15-19, 65, 255,

385; MambajL 44n, 88;

Rajaram212, 253, 307.

344, 348. 349. 351.355;

Rupaji 352; Sambhaji

( son of Shahaji ) 30. 35.

39-41, 59, 60; Sambhaji

(son of Shivaji ) 90. 179,

180. 191, 194. 197. 246,

250. 268.270, 272.273.

275. 276, 297-300.303.

304, 307, 325,348.349,

351,353.358; Sambhaji

( son of Vithoji ) 20;

Shahaji 6. 16. 27. 29. 30.

42, 43n. 48n. 51, 53. 58.

63. 80. 82. 93. 98, 101,

148. 149. 165. 166n, 199.
257, 260-262. 278. 280.
281. 283, 290. 305, 330,
331n, 338, 345, 346. 361,
385. 386; Sharifji 16. 21,
24; Trimbakji 111;
Vithoji 11, 13, 15.17-20.
22,385;Vyankoji41.141,

199. 239. 278. 279, 286,

288. 290. 292. 306, 334

Bhuleshwar 43

Bhushan 331

Bijapur 7, 12, 35,-37 41.

42, 59. 61, 74, 75, 81, 88,

100,102,105,107.109.112,

133.134.136,165.181.182,

186,187,192,194. 226. 228,

231,234,269,271,279.293.

295.296, 299.302,304, 305.

307. 318, 345. 346

Bokil 103

Bombay 145. 175, 180. 205.

207,21 ln,212.214,215.218.

221.231,234,236,237,243.

270. 272, 274n, 275, 276.
281,282.289.295,297,299,
303, 308. 330.350,367.372.
377. 380

Borgia 162

Brahme 57n

Bulakhi 135

Buldhana 385

Burhan Nizamshah 8. 32
Burhanpur 197, 218, 220

271. 303

Burkhurdarkhan 36n

Caesor 229, 328

Canara, South 173

398

INDEX

Cannanore 144

Cape Camorin 289, 378
Carlyle 5

Ceylon 369

Chakan 57n, 64, 115, 123,

124, 134, 150, 386, 387
Chalukya 7

Chandan-Vandan 230, 233
Chand Bibi 73

Chandor 220

Chandorkar. Mr. 387
Chandwad 241

Chanjaur 307

Chanura 14

Chaphal 257.-2S9. 263,

265,295

Chaphekar, Mr. 374

Charholi 48n

Charles V 161

Chaturbet 69

Chaul 82. 83, 109, 111.

124. 135. 144. 149, 164.

175. 180. 196. 198. 237.

238. 366

Chili 322

Chidambar 287

Chimnaji 140. 141

Chinch wad 181

Chiplun 126, 237

Chitnis, Balaji Avaji 6.203,

252. 353

Cholamandala 281

Chopda 303. 380

Clive 387

Cochin 270

Coondapoor 173

Coromandel 272, 281
Count Cavour 343, 344

Dabhol 83,109, 110.113,

126, 128, 130, 144, 199,

237,238,364
Dabir Annaji 211; Sonaji-

pant 64, 82, 124; Trim.

bak Bhaskar 187, 196,

119. 128, 194

Dadaji Bapuji 82

Dadaji Konddeo36. 40, 42,

46n. 50. 51, 56. 57n, 62,

148, 262. 345, 346, 360,

361. 386

Dadaji Naras 385, 386
Dalipsing 6. 9

Dalvi 128. 130

Dam(c) 374,375

Damajipant 73

Daman 378, 380

Damascus 369

DandaRaja P uri92,93. 150,

212. 299

Dangaon 271

Dara .75. 76

Darekar, Ganoji 352

Daryakhan 26, 35

Daudkhan 218. 220

Dauiatabad7, 31. 32, 33,

36. 36n, 73, 262
Daulat Mangal 30, 43n
Delhi 136. 141, 191, 232,

300

Dello. Mr. 327

Deogiri 12. 13, 315

Derhadi 13

Derhigad 135

Desai 143

Desain 287, 293

Desala 9

INDEX

399

Deshpande Baji Prabhu

117, 119-J21

Deulgaon 1 1

Deva ( Chinchawad) 181
Devarai (c) 371

Dcvarajaji 7, 9

Devrukh 199

Dhabbu Paisa (c )374, 377
Dhar 345

Dharangaon 303

Dharwadi ( c ) 371

Dharwar 334, 354

Dholpur 188

Dhrishtadyumna 137, 313
Dhulap 366

Dilerkhan 176, 177, 181.
182. 197, 221-223. 228,
235, 271,294-300,302-307
Dindori 218. 219

Dipabai 348

Diyanatrao 261

Drake Mr. 322

Drona 313

Duff. Grant 11, 25,38, 55.
102, 141, 200n, 212, 222,
223,239. 304, 305. 311-
313, 316, 323

Duke of Piedmont 67

Durgadevi 86

Durgadi 81, 86n

Duryodhan 104. 136

Dwarka 7

Ekanath 261, 262

Elur 13

England 77

Escaliot 158. 160. 345
Faradkhan 59

Faraskhan 60. 62

Fardusi 331

Fattehkhan 23, v29-32, 34.

59. 60, 75. 381
Fauladkhan 189, 190, 194
Fazalkhan 105, 109.

Fort St. George 288, 292.

295

Frederick, the Great 328
Frira 272, 338. 347. 363
Gaarda, Cosma D. 365
Gadag 283,288,293,305.

354

Gadgil, Mr. R. H. 374, 375
Gagabhat 6, 242, 244, 246.

248. 252-254, 318, 370
Gahadaval 8, 379

Gaikwad 347;Krishnaji99
Gajapur 122

Gandapur 14

Gandevi 158

Gangadharpant 120, 353
Ganges 252

Garribaldi 2, 344

Garry 174, 207

Gaudagav 14

Gawan, Muhammad 73
Ghate, Mr. 105

Ghatge 323, 337; Krishnaji

352; Pilaji Raje 243

Ghatmatha 90, 149. 151.

178. 181. 229. 236, 238.

335. 336. 363, 383
Ghazni 378. 379

Ghodkhind 122

Ghogha 231

Ghor 364

Ghorpade 88, 261, 337;

Bahirji 352; Baji 59,165.

400

INDEX

166n, 280; Maloji Raje
279;Santaji237.292,301,
352

Ghrishneshvara 15

Gibbon 325

Goa 83, 143-145, 149. 150,

167, 170. 171. 175, 198,

200n, 204, 208. 237. 365,

368, 380

Godavari(r) 192,256.351
Gokarna 171. 192

Gondvan 192

Gosavi, Bhaskar 265;
Dinkar267;Divakar265;
Mahadaji 48n; Moroba
45m, 63

Govalkonda 74, 79, 134.
192. 219. 225. 226. 276,
283. 388

Gujarat 365.369.370

Gujar Babaji 55, 56; Kada-
toji 187. 197; Prataprao
187. 197. 205. 206. 208.
222. 223. 228. 229.230.
231. 233. 234. 253,307.
362

Gulbarga 72, 293

Gunaji 227

Gupchup 43

Guru Govindsingh 263
Gutti 371

Gwalior 31, 122, 155, 188
Gyfford39n. 111,135, 146,

149, 182n

Halgi 274

Hamidkhan 29-31

Hanmante, Narayan 283;

Raghunathpant 239. 248,

282, 285. 287. 288, 292.

318. 359. 362

Hannibal 2

Harji 131

Marsha 73. 251

Hasan pathan 88

Havelock. General 161
Hawkins 322

Henry Kenry 232

Hirdas Maval 117

Hiroji Farjand 193

Hirudachalam 291

Hiuen-Tsiang 363

Hivre 102, 103

Hon(c) 370.373.375
Honap, Moro Vithal 43n
Hoskot 307

Hospet 270

HublillO, 172, 230, 241.

295, 324, 354. 380
Hukeri 109. 230

Hunderi 330

Hussain Nizamshah 32
Husseinkhan 234

Husseinkhan ( Mogul ) 307
Hyderabad 279. 283

Ibrahim Adilshah 22,287
Ibrahim! (c) 37

Ikhlaskhan 181,221,223
Indapur 1 7. 34. 44n. 45n,

148, 150. 180, 195, 364
Indur 192

Ingle 347; Pantoji 99

Islamkhan Rumi 275

Italy 67

Jabitkhan 306

Jadhav 7.8.347; Dattajj

20; Dhanaji J 237. 352

INDEX

401

Lukhji 11, 18, 19,20,26.

27, 29, 30, 31; Ram-

chandrarao316
Jafferkhan 197

Jagannath 191. 192

Jagtap, Gondaji 352;

Khandoji 352; Santaji

352

Jaimini 384

Jaipur 25

Jaisingh 169, 172, 175-181.

183-187, 189, 190. 193.

197, 209, 212, 240. 276.

277,302,368,371,376

alna 235.301,306,307

alnapur 306

amb 256,261 265

amdarkhan 135

Jamsherkhan 299

Janardanpant 73, 262, 282,

305 307 353
Janjir'a 92, 93, 150, 212,

226, 231, 238. 240, 330
Jarasandha 70

Jaswantsingh 82, 130. 138.

139, 147, 157, 158, 164.

176, 197. 212, 240
Jategaon 13. 14

Javali 64-70. 72. 80. 85. 90-

95. 102. 148. 150, 259.

312. 346. 364. 365
Jawhar 224. 225

Javaram 6. 38, 221. 226,

228. 229, 331
Jedhe 64. 339,386; Kanhoji

34, 62. 63, 65-67. 89. 100;

Sarjerao 187.283
Jehangir 73

S. 26

Jhansi 161, 163, 322

Jijabai 18, 20, 26. 27, 36n,

39. 40, 118, 165, 166n.

248. 346, 348

Jija Mahala 97. 91

Jinji 58. 284-289. 305, 353.

355

Jnyaneshvar 261

Joharkhore 65, 66

Joshi, Mr. Shankarrao 371
Junnar 12. 25. 26. 34-36.

79.80. 181.191.198.208.

214. 215. 220, 238, 353.
377, 380. 381

Kabul 184

Kadoli 169

Kafikhan 55 192

Kagal 109.243

Kaji Sajju 44n

Kakade, Ramaji 352;

Suryarao 222

Kalabhor 362

Kale, Mr. D. V. 180

Kale, Prof. 373-376

Kale, Mr. Y. M. 385

Kalyan 81, 82. 86n, 87, 92.

93, 109. 124. 135. 149.

173. 180, 196.205, 21 In.

215. 219, 231, 237, 238.
271. 272, 326n, 359. 364.
367. 381

Kanauj 251. 378

Kank,Ye8aji 54.99. 105.

141. 154. 187. 283. 352

Kannad 167. 281

Kannarad 13

Karanja 220

Karaval 307

402

INDEX

Karavir 107

Kare Pathar 43n

Karhad 107. 199. 230. 323.

353

Kan 44n, 62

Karmala 14

Karnala 196

Karnatak 58. 59. 61. 63. 65.

72. 81. 101. 109, 127. 144.

279.281-283,286,288-294.

305, 306. 315. 326. 351.

353. 354, 359. 378. 380

Karnool 109,119,130

Kartalabkhan 124, 125, 134

Karwar 143. 149. 167. 171,

182n. 183. 187n. 200n,204,

205, 212, 230, 233, 234,

241n. 268. 270, 295. 299n,

305

Karyat Maval43n, 44n. 140
197

Kashi 191

Kashiba 176

Kashiba, 253, 347

Kashmir 364

Kate. Niloji 352

Kathiawar 370

Katkar. Niloji 323; Santaji

352

Yesaji 352

Kaurava 131. 310

Kaushika 10

Kavaji 60. 135

Kaveri. 285.351; pak(c) 371
Kelanja 235

Keloti 130

Khadilkar Mr.K. P. 369
Khandagale 20

Khanderi 232. 330

Khandeah29.196.235. 303

306, 380. 382. 387
Khandkar. Vy ankatrao 352
Khan Jahan 30, 235

Khan jama 34

Khan khanan 36n

Khan Muhammad 75

Kharade 88. 362

Kharepatan 111, 128, 149

176, 177n

Kharkuli. Ambaji 368
Khatav 107

Khavaskhan 165, 165n
166n. 169. 226. 228. 230.
274, 275, 284, 296
Khed 140

Khede Bare 63. 123

Khedle 385

Khelna 122

Khidarkhan 235

Khopade 89, 386

Khudavantpur 170

Kishansing 302

Koka 235

Kolar 287, 292. 305. 353
Kole 364

Kolhapur 25. 107. 108. 146.
149. 229. 230. 270. 276,
278, 279, 282, 304. 353.
Kolvan 219. 238

Kondaji Farjund 227. 228
Kondhan46n,56, 126. 147.

158. 361

Konkan 34. 68. 81. 84. 90.
105. 106. 109. 110, 111.
124. 126. 131. 133. 149.
152. 164. 168. 170, 172.

INDEX

403

175, 181, 196, 198, 199.
204, 21 In, 215. 219, 224,
225. 237. 238, 249. 253.
269. 270, 271. 273. 334-
336. 351, 363. 365. 367,
368. 370, 380, 382; North

148, 150, 158, 366; South
82, 83, 133, 135, 143,
147.200; Tal 178.205.214;

Ko P al234, 237, 238. 287.

298, 304, 305, 351.353.

354
Korde, Raghunathpant 68,

194. 196. 239

Korlie 323

Krishna (r) 71, 103, 107,

257, 261. 276. 278. 305.
Krishnaji Bhaskar 97, 102,

199, 229, 365.

Krishnajipant 194

Kudal 112. 143. 144. 146.

149. 165n. 166-168, 172.
177n, 181, 198, 238. 364

Kumar, la 12, 384, 385

Kundal 109

Kunjargad 218

Kutubkhan 271

Lad, Vithoji 352

Lakshmanasen 6, 315

Lakshmeshwar 109. 227,

287. 294

Lal-darga-kot 286

Lai Mahal 136. 138. 140,

142

Lanepoole 325

Lanka 369

Lasur 14

Leonidas 1 17

Lingamgad 180

Lohakare. Dadaji Krishna

62, 63n

Lohgad 92, 215, 238. 364
Loni 44n

Madanna 280, 283

Madras 286. 288, 332. 377,

379

Madura 278. 288

Mahabaleshwar 55n, 171
Mahabatkhan 31, 36, 149,

220-222, 235

Mahadik, Harji Raje 362
Mahammad Ghori 378.379
Mahatbarkhan 86n

Mahipatgad 364

Mahroud Ghazni 214.297.

317. 321. 322. 325, 328,

331, 338, 364. 378,379.
Mahuli 26. 27, 34-37, 82.

92, 196, 211, 215, 272.

381

Mahur 271

Main waring 325

Malabar 173. 281

Male khind 294

Malik Amber 14, 19. 21-23,

29.73

Malik Kafur 72, 378

Malkapur 303

Malkhatti 371

Malusare, Suryaji 209, 352

Tanaji 54, 105. 126. 127.

141. 187. 191.209. 210.

228

Mai van 171

Malwerer 281

Mandangad 128

404

INDEX

Mangalvedhe 73

Manohargad 198

Manranjan 364

Manuchi 5. 190

Markund 221

Masaudkhan 116, 118, 121.

294, 295. 296, 301, 305-

307

Maskat 204

Masulipattan 299

Masur 107, 199. 257

Mathura 191. 192

Maval 44n

Mavlankar 383

Mayani 107

Mayasura 241

Mayena Husseinkhan 283,

298

Mecca 366

Mehetar. Madari 194. 387
Meskrakot 354

Milan 161

Minerva 102

Miraj 109. 269. 354

Mir Jumla 74. 75, 79. 80
Modak, Captain 122

Mohite237, 346; Dharoji

23; Hansaji 231, 234;

Hambirrao237,247,283,

285, 287. 291, 292. 302.

304.305.325; Sambhaji

23, 80; Savji 352
Mohokumsingh 224

Morar Baji 177

More 70. 84.337: Bajraj 69;

Chandrarao 64, 65. 67-

69, 85. 92.93. #8. 312.

319: Daulatrao 65. 66;

Hanmantrao 65. 66. 69;

Krishnarao 66-69;Mana ji

287, 352; Prataprao 90.

105: Suryajirao 67, 66
Moreshwar 48n

Moro Nilkantha 362

Motyaji 227

Muaj jam 197. 205. 206. 2 17
221. 301-303

Mudhoji 22

Mudhol 164. 165. 166n
Muhammad Adilshah 31,

33,34.37,42,58-61, 65.

70, 71. 74. 76. 85. 93, 341

Muhammad Taghluk 72, 74

Mujumdar Nilopant 211.

213

Mulher 353

Mulla Hussein 63n

Mulla Mahamad 21

Murad 61. 381

Murar Jagdev 43n

Muraripant 30. 31

Murtiza 29. 32

Musekhan 88

Muse Khore 55

Mustfakhan 58, 59

Mutha (r) 134

Nadia 315

Nagoji Govinda 365

Nagoji Pandit 228

Nagothana 124

Nahavagad 307

Naldurg 286. 294

Namaji 43n, 44n

Nandgiri 230

Naquada Omed 232

Narhar Anandrao 132

INDEX

405

Narhekar, Yeso Narayan

211

Narsa 268

Narsala, Firangoji 386
Narvar 188

Nasarkhan 284

Nasik 33, 197, 218-221.

224, 260. 261, 353. 383
Nasirkhan 80

Nayak 101

Nesari 234

Newton 343

Niccolls 241

Nilkanthrao 56

Nimbalkar 7. 8, 16. 323.

345, 346; Bajaji 196, 348:

Haraj,352:Mahadaji34H;

Sidhoji229. 301; Tukoji

352
Nira (r) 17. 34.. 44n,

45n, 60. 92. 150, 180, 199,

386

Niraji Nilkanth 187, 191.

194, 200, 205. 206. 225.

247, 276, 300

Niraji Raoji 362

Nirthadi 43n

Nischalapuri Gosavi 253,

254.347

Nivati 234

Nizampur 128

Oka. Mr. S. K. 345-348
Oxenden 168, 182n. 250.

251, 252. 254. 255. 347.

372

Ozha, Mr.Gaurishankar 25
Pagoda (c) 372

Paineka 272

Paithan 14. 242, 261

Pali 114,121.126.128.

130,353.362
Palkar349; Nathoji 352;

Netaji 106.109.115.125,

135. 140.187.277

Palmerston
Palvan
Pandava
241,310
Pande (v)
Pandhare
Pandharpur

343

70, 136, 137.

88, 122
19 9ft

Panhala 4. 23. 107-109.
114. 115. 118. 119. 121.
122, 125, 129, 131, 144.
186, 227, 238, 268, 270.
272. 278. 282. 285, 287.
296.297,299, 303. 304.
306.307.323. 331, 349.
353

Panipat

Pantaji

102

Panvel
Par
Parali

Paramanand
Paramara
Parenda
Pargh
Pasal

35-
Gopinath 94, 97.

124, 365. 367
95. 125. 139-
229. 233. 297, 353
331

ni>. P.j
loii~351>.AJdaii

406

INDEX

Pedgaon 10,13,236. 296.

301, 307

Pedro 21

Peinth 217, 219

Pemgiri 33. 381

Pen 135.205,367

Persia 77, 173, 193

Peru 322

Peshwas 15

Phaltan 16. 181

Phonda 84,112. 149. 164,

166. 238. 268-270, 353

Pilaji Nilkanth 126.131,132

Pimpalvadi 14

Pimpri 45n

Pindol 272

Pingle, Moro Trimal 71,

105,132.135.140,187. 191,

192. 201,211, 213, 214,

220-224. 234, 238, 247,

250, 271, 272. 282.298.

303, 306, 307, 353, 362,

380; Nilopant 353

Pir miya 199

Poladpur 228

Pondichery 279, 323

Pongette 162

Poona 3, 21-23. 25. 26. 35-

42,43n.48n.49,63.68.69,

78.80.91.106.110, 123.

124.132 134-138.141, 142.

148. 150, 157, 180. 181,

195, 198, 208. 219, 262,

276. 329, 345, 346. 351.

364. 376, 377

Porle 14

Prabhavali 127, 128, 131,
132. 383

Pralhad Niraji 280. 353
Pratapgad 71. 80. 95. 105,

125. 151. 172, 228. 253.

353.364

Pratapsinh 2

Pratitagad 128

Prayag 191

Punamali 285

Punde. Babaji Naik 226.

227; Shamji Naik 301
Purandar46n.56.59.60. 62.

64.92.103. 124. 148.151,

172. 175-177. 180. 196,

208, 211-212. 332, 353.

364. 368. 381

Putalabai 346, 347, 349
Quebec 14

Quilon 144

Radtondi Ghat 95

Ragho Maratha 194

Rahimatpur 135

Raghunathrao Panditrao

248

Raibag 107. 230. 270. 296
Raibagin 114,124.125
Raigad 68. 129., 152. 178.

180, 198.228, 231, 233,

240. 241. 244, 2^5, 285.

288.293, 302.303. 307.

308. 330. 346. 353, 364.
Raja of Ramnagar 378
Rajapur 85. 88. 101. 107-

111. 126. 127, 129. 131-

133. 143, 144. 147-149.

151. 167. 172. 173. 177n.

204.216,218.227,231.237.

238.270.271.274-276.287.

295,296,301,303.364,368

INDEX

407

Rajgad 55,80.90,92. 115

118. 122. 124. 126, 128.

135, 140. 147. 151. 152.

160. 165. 166a. 172, 178.

180. 186, 187. 192, 194.

198, 206-203. 209, 212.

217, 218, 225. 240. 272.

353, 364 386

Rama 257. 262. 348

Ramaji Bhaskar 352

Ramchandra Narayan 285
Ramchandra Nilkanth 353
Ramchandrarai (c) 37 1
Ramchandra Trimbak 247
Ramadas 255-267. 291.

292,338.339, 347. 348
Ramanna 285

Ratnji 86

Ramnager 224, 225, 271,

272

Ramsingh 187. 188. 302
Ranade. (J) 380. 382. 383
Ranamastakhan 286, 301,

306,307

Rana of Udaipur 298

Randullakhan 31. 34. 58,

59

Rane Bennur 63
Rangana ( Prasiddhgad )

83, 122. 199, 204. 353,

364

Rango Narayan 287,

Ranze 55

Raoji Niraji 247

Raoji Pandit 132. 139, 140.

146. 167. 169. 353
Rathod 7; Gahadval 8

Ratnagiri 131, 143

Rawla Jawla 220. 221
Revadanda 83

Revington 38n, 85, 101,

111. 129, 130, 151
Rotiid khore 199. 386

Rome 161. 162

Rudolf Taylor 132, 169
Rukka ( c ) 373-375

Rupalkhan 284

Rustam Jama 58, 83, 107-

109. 111-113. 169
Sabnis 69; Raghunath

Ballal 67

Sagunabai 347. 349

Saibai 345-348

Saifkhan Habsi 110

Sajjangad 255. 292

Sakalya 10

Sakho Krishna 82

Sakwarbai 347. 349

Salabatkhan 119, 120. 126.
131
Saler 200-223, 235, 238,

353. 381

Sambhaji Hambirrao 352
Sambhaji Kavaji 69. 99
Sampgaon 234. 235. 287
Sandas 43n

Sandas Khurd 43n

Sangmeshwar 126, 127. 130
Sangamner 301. 371

Sangli 109

Sarjekhan 230.1233. 274.

294. 296. 302. 305. 307
Sarjerao 21

Saswad 103. 106. 109. 115.

123. 124. 175

408

INDEX

Satara 16, 108, 149. 219,
229. 233, 255,353,359.
381

Sawant 84, 128. 143. 145,
147. 149. 166n. 167. 201.
337; Kaya 232; Lakham
83,86. 112. 131. 143. 146.
164-166. 200n

Sayyad Banda 97-99

Scindia Mahadji 196, 333
Selimkar 67, 68

Sen 8

Sen, Dr. S. N. 279, 365,
369, 378. 380. 382-384.
Sonale 86n

Shahjahan 23, 33. 61. 74,

76, 86n. 188. 261. 320.

381. 387

Shah Alum 276

Shahapur 299

Shah-Sharif 16

Shaistekhan 4, 114. 123-

126, 132. 134-136. 138-

140. 142. 144. 147. 164,

176. 180. 181, 14. 376
Shamakhan 352

Shambhu Mahadeo hill 16
Shamraj Nilkant 93. 132
Shankaracharya 337

Shejavalkar. Mr. 173, 354
Shenvi, Narayan 243. 250;

Pitambar 167

Sherkhan 171, 285. 286
Shinde, Nemaji 352;Vithoji

229, 230. 233

Shira 101

Shirke 12. 83, 346. 349,352
Shirol 230

Shirval 60, 106. 123. 201.

375. 382. 383. 386
Shitole, Narsoji 352

Shivai 28

Shiveshwar 269

Shivneri 25-28. 34, 35.220
Shivrai(c) 371.372

Shivram Jyotiahi 25

Shivthar 265

Sholapur 200

Shrigonda 13

Shn Krishna 54. 70. 104.

311.314
Shringarpur 83. 114. 121.

126. 127, 128, 130. 143

199

Shrirangapattan 288

Shrivardhangad 364

Siddi 4. 92,366.369.383

Hilal 115, 229; Johar

109, 114-116, 118-122.

127.128, 130- 132: Masaud

228; Sumbol 212
Sienna 162

Sikandar 226

Sikhandi 313

Sina (r) 12

Shindhudurga 364

Sinhgad 60.64.80,92.93,

123. 135. 138. 141. 142,

147-149, 151, 157. 172.

180, 181, 196, 208-210.

212, 228. 253. 268. 330.

353. 364, 381

Sironge 188

Siaodia 6. 7. 9. 10

Sonavadi 123

Soonda 383

INDEX

409

Soyarabai

Spain

Srisailam

Sudhagad

Sukhdeo

346-348
289
291
364
9

Supa21.34, 44n, 45n. 48n,

80, 109, 123. 148, 150.
180, 195, 196, 364
Surat39n. 129. 130. 132,
135. 139. 149, 157, 158,
160. 161, 1 163. 166n. 168,
172. 174, 182n, 186, 192.
193, 200n, 205, 207, 208.
21 In. 212, 214-219. 223-
225,231,232, 236, 271,
272, 274-276. 278, 288.
289. 293, 299. 303. 317.
318. 320. 324. 353, 370,
380

Surve83. 131; Suryaji 13;
Suryarao 128
Suvarnadurga 152, 364
Swali 217

Tadpatri 371

Tajkhan 199

Taka ( c ) 373-376

Talebid 23

Talikot 73. 161. 281

Tamil 281

Tanaahah 225

Tanjore 25. 278, 279. 287.
292. 305. 306. 331n
Tathora 282

Tan 364

Tavernier 219

Telangan 72

Telangrao 352

Thana 143

Tikota 229

Tilak. Mr. 25

Tirupati 286

Torana ( Prachandgad) 55,
148. 178. 364

Trilochanapnl 364

Trimalvadi 288

Trimbak Fort 177. 220,353
Trimul 285

Tukaram 262

Tulja Bhavani 71, 89. 266
Tuljapur 89. 90

Tung 364

Tungabhadra 234. 293.305.
351

Tupe, Waghoji 135

Udaipur 241

Udayaraj 194

Udebhan 209

Uderam 114

Udipa 173

Ujjain 82

Umabai 17. 19

Umber khtnd 124, 128. 134
Umichand 387

Umrani 229. 230. 233, 237
Vakadi 13

Valmiki 348

Vardhangad 132

Vasota 129

Velavand khore 386

Vellore 285. 286. 289. 353
Velvad 287. 293

Velvandi 288

Vengi Mahal 81

Vengurla42. 110-112.120,
144-146. 149. 169. 172.
199,237,238,27*283

410

INDEX

Verul 7.9,11.15

Victor Emanuel 344

Vidula 52

Vijayadurga 364

Vijayanagr58,72.73. 144,
152, 173. 281. 290. 371
Vikrama 73

Vikramshah ( Koli King )

244

Virabhadra 59

Vishalgad 116, 118. 121,
122. 126. 177. 353. 364.
Vishvanath 206

Vishvasrao 26, 349

Viso Ballal 229

Vithal Pildeo 229

Vithoba 90

Wadi 128, 143. 146. 149

Wai 65. 68. 89-91. 95. 102.
105-107, 149. 199. 227.

230. 235. 238. 278
Waknis, Dattaji 194. 202.

238, 248, 267. 270. 282.

298

Wellesley. Marquis of 383
Wolf. General 141

Wallace 2

Walter Raleigh, Sir 99
Warangal 72

Washington 2

Yadava7; Ramchandrarao

261

Yakubkhan 212

Yakut 88

Yeola 14

Yadhisthira 70

Zanjibar 367